DEV Community: Ideamotive

How Blue Light Filters And White Noise Help Software Developers

Ideamotive — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 11:35:53 +0000

Software developers need to focus on users’ health and well-being while designing their digital products.

January is supposedly a time of the year when people in the northern hemisphere feel the most depressed and melancholic. In 2005, psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall even came up with a mathematic formula based on which we can presumably calculate the level of happiness (W+(D-d)]xTQ/MxNA – if you are really curious, go here). Basing on this formula, each year someone (we wonder who!) calculates the most depressive day of the year – Blue Monday.

Many research studies point towards the misuse of technology as a root cause for our anxieties, depressions, and difficulties with focus. However, it is worth noting that numerous digital development agencies have been coming up with positive tech solutions to enhance the well-being of their users.

These solutions include many different ideas – from creating user-friendly mobile apps for meditation and health to software developers and UX designers re-thinking products so that they support the mental health of the consumer. Find out more about some of the digital products that can help you stay sane.

Blue light filters

Research has shown that of all the light frequencies emitted by electronic screens, it is the blue light that can be most harmful – especially if we stay in front of our devices late into the evening.

That is because our bodies associate this light frequency with daytime when it boosts our energy levels and mood as we absorb it with sunlight. However, exposing ourselves to blue light after dusk messes with our circadian rhythm and might disturb normal sleep patterns, because it suppresses the secretion of melatonin. Bad quality sleep can consequently lead to problems with focus, anxiety and a higher risk of certain diseases.

Software developers have come up with solutions to this problem. There are numerous free applications you can download to block out the blue light. One of the most popular ones is f.lux, a cross-platform program that advertises itself as ‘making the color of your computer’s display adapt to the time of the day’. This essentially means adjusting the wavelength of light emitted by your devices to the natural light outside. As a result, even if you use your screen late at night, it becomes much less harmful.

Similar solutions are built into the major operating systems. Most Macs have a native ‘Night Shift’ feature that you can either turn on manually or set as a default mode each day during certain hours. The same can be found in Windows 10. Android offers a downloadable app called Twilight, which is encouraged to use for bed-time reading or watching videos on mobile devices.

White noise apps

Just so you know: I am currently writing this article to the sound of cicadas, rain, and fire coming from… my computer. The ambient noise apps became very popular recently and for a good reason.

It is well-established that certain types of background noise can be beneficial for your sleep, as well as improve concentration at work or help you relax. The idea behind it is the white noise: an even distribution of all sound frequencies within the range of human hearing. The core point of generating white noise is to create a ‘sound wall’ consisting of all sound frequencies so that our focus (or peace of mind) is not disturbed by other randomly appearing noises.

Mobile web applications providing white noise for work or rest base largely on sound loops with recordings of nature noise – waves, raindrops, fire, birds chirp or burning wood. A good example is a currently trending app called Noisli, which enables the user to compose their own soundscape by choosing from 16 different noises that can be mixed together and controlled in terms of volume.

The software developers of Noisili claim that their product can improve focus, productivity and help people relax. Having been a very active Noisli user recently, I can’t help but agree.

Other similar and equally popular background noise apps are White Noise and Rain Rain. They either come in basic free versions or in premium, with additional sound packs available. Those apps also include options to save your own mixes or set an alarm clock waking you up with pleasant white noise of your choice.

Meditation apps

Meditation and mindfulness mobile software is a great example of how users are willing to proactively use technology to initiate positive changes in their behavior. It is not merely about neutralizing the negative effects of our everyday environment – people are clearly looking into technology to help them live better lives.

Those mindfulness tools are mostly mobile app solutions. Certain iOS versions for iPhone already have a built-in ‘Health’ application with mindfulness function included. It encourages the user to ‘take a few deep breaths’ or log ‘mindfulness minutes’ into their phone daily.

Downloadable apps that offer guided meditation, help with relaxation or prompts to be mindful are already too many to count. Some of them even offer courses and podcasts to help you develop qualities like gratitude or compassion, as well as link users to a ‘supportive community’ which is supposed to help in achieving mindfulness goals. Among the most popular apps of this sort, you will find names such as Calm, Zen, Headspace, Insight Timer or Aura. If you want to look into it more deeply, check out this dedicated article.

With all their potential benefits and appealing design, it is worth checking who contributed to the design of such a life-bettering app. Best mindfulness and meditation applications on the market involve the expertise of mental health practitioners and psychologists.

Mental health in the UX design process

Technology that was once blamed for the damage to the mental health of its users now has the potential to become a saving grace for some of them. That’s because there is a growing awareness that the real impact of technology on well-being comes from the way we use it.

More than about fancy health and productivity apps, it is about making sure that any digital product is designed with the benefit of its user in mind. Top developers are already conscious of the solutions that can have a positive impact on the end consumer of virtually any digital product, such as a mobile app or website interface.

The future of the sustainable and healthy digital market is in the hands of software developers and UX designers. They are the ones who create the experience for the end-user, from personalizing app features and designing an intuitive layout to planning communication between the client and customer service.

It is becoming evident that the way digital products are designed can have an impact not only on customer satisfaction but also on their overall health. An example of a company that puts a lot of attention to mental-health friendly UX design and makes it part of their brand is Monzo, a mobile banking service from the UK.

Ideamotive is walking this path, too. Throughout each project, we make sure that our software developers and UX designers are working with the benefit of the user in mind. We believe that this approach satisfies the needs of all the parties involved – our direct client, end consumer, as well as our agile development team.

To learn more about our project development process, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

ReactJS vs Angular – Which One Is Better For Your Front-End?

Ideamotive — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 14:49:25 +0000

Like many other “battles” in the IT, the one we will talk about this time is also fuelled up by the industry’s giants. ReactJS, a JavaScript library created and maintained by Facebook is often compared to Angular, a Google-driven programming framework. But is there a clear winner in this fight? Which of these two solutions is better for your company?

We prepared this short guide on ReactJS vs Angular to help you find answers to those questions. As a group of experts who do both React web development as well as Angular-based projects on a daily basis, we know exactly the main pros and cons one might need to consider when choosing the perfect front-end solution.

The Basic Differences

(if you have some knowledge about libraries and frameworks you can skip this paragraph)

Let us start with the basics. As previously mentioned, ReactJS is a library, while Angular is a framework.

What is the difference?

A real-life library is a place where books are collected. What is a JavaScript library then? A collection of small pieces of code that allow you to quickly add some new functions to your app or website.

How about the framework? Think of the frame itself first. What is it in real life? It can be, for example, something of a case in which you can put your family photos or a nice painting to hang on a wall. If you have a specific frame and your photo is too big for it, the only thing you can really do quickly is cutting the image – making it small enough to fit the frame.

Framework in the software development world, then, is providing you with a specific standard for your website or application. In other words, it sets up the architecture of your project that you cannot simply change. Just like you cut the photo to fit the frame, you need to make sure you are coding in a way that your framework dictates.

So what all of it means to you? That ReactJS gives you more freedom. You can add a function from a ReactJS library to your already existing app or website. On the other hand, if you want to use Angular, your product should basically be created with this framework in mind from the beginning.

Getting Deeper

Nevertheless, one of the most important things for both ReactJS and Angular are the components. What are those? Sets of pre-written code that allow developers to add new functions to the project much faster than if they would try to write all the code by themselves.

What can a component do? For example, it can provide you with an ABC survey system for your blog or a buying system for your new shopping platform.

There are, however, some clear differences we should consider in the ReactJS vs Angular battle.

One of them is the fact that ReactJS – unlike Angular – uses virtual DOM, instead of the regular one. What is the DOM (Document Object Model) itself? An abstract API (application programming interface) presenting parts of the HTML document in the form of a tree. Each of these parts of a document (e.g. a website’s header) has its dedicated node and object. It’s incredibly important because it allows programs to quickly access all the information they need from a document in order to run the app.

Virtual DOM makes the whole process even faster. Unlike the regular DOM, it only updates the parts of the document’s tree where the changes have happened recently. The regular DOM, on the other hand, every time updates the whole tree. This difference makes ReactJS in some cases faster than Angular.

We should consider the fact that the current Angular is also sometimes referred to as Angular 2. This is because Google has been previously working on a different framework, AngularJS, formerly created in 2009.

However, although Angular (or Angular 2, if you prefer) is clearly a continuation of the previous project, it SHOULD NOT be mistaken with AngularJS. There is a number of important differences between these two frameworks, and there is no easy way to simply migrate your project from AngularJS to Angular 2. This is why AngularJS is these days used less and less by developers and Google itself announced that the company will stop supporting the framework on exactly the 30th of June 2021. Because of this, AngularJS is no longer perceived as a viable solution for new projects. Instead, all interest is focused on the Angular 2.

The Easier, The Better?

JavaScript is these days known even by people who have never had any history with coding. Most of the basic courses on web development focus on the first three basic steps: learning HTML, learning CSS, and learning JavaScript. This popularity means that finding a JavaScript developer is relatively easy.

Unlike React, Angular is based on a superset of JavaScript, called TypeScript. It is a much newer technology, presented to the world for the first time in 2012 by Microsoft. Compared to this, JavaScript seems to be an ancient technology launched all the way back in 1995.

TypeScript is less known than JavaScript and it is also commonly called out as a more difficult programming language to learn. This means it may be harder for you to find a TypeScript developer, but if you will find one, they will probably already have some important and useful experience in coding.

Moreover, TypeScript demands from the developer writing clearer code than JavaScript. This may help you when a transition happens and you need to pass a project to other programmers in the team.

For some time TypeScript has also been praised for its real-life code check, helping to identify common mistakes while in the process of writing the code. However, in 2014 Facebook started to work on a similar solution for JavaScript and React, called Flow. Instead of being a separate programming language one would need to learn to make use of the real-life bug check, Flow is just a static type checker for JavaScript, as Facebook officials call it.

The Cornerstones

No framework and no library will be successful without the support of a steadily growing community. On first glance, the battle of React vs Angular seems to be relatively close-fought in this case. But is it really?

Let’s look at some numbers.

Firstly, Google Trends data.

The blue one is for React, the red is for Angular. As you can see, for some time the Google’s framework was doing better than Facebook’s library. However, in early 2018 this happened to change and now React is being searched more in Google.

Let’s also look at some even more important data – the list of the most popular repositories on GitHub. There, React ranks on the 5th place, overshadowing Angular. The latter has also fewer contributors. Finally, the commits seem to be happening more often in the case of React.

Finally, it may be also useful to have a look at the yearly Stack Overflow survey. According to its 2018 edition, Angular is currently more often used by developers than React (36,9% vs 27,8%). However, React is more loved (69,4% vs 54,6%) as well as more wanted (21,3% vs 14,3%) technology among the developers. Finally, what may be interesting especially for Google, is the fact that Angular is one of the most dreaded technologies on the market (45,4% vs 30,6%). This can be an effect of a few things, including the fact that Angular is more complicated than React (especially for newcomers) due to its use of TypeScript.

Besides the Giants

Obviously, Facebook and Google have not developed React and Angular only to kindly support the developers around the world. They have also done it to run their own apps and websites on those two systems. Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook itself are powered by React, while tons of Google services are handled using Angular.

But how about everything outside of the world of IT giants? What are some other companies that have signed themselves up for the ReactJS vs Angular battle?

There are really tons of them. For example, among ReactJS companies one can find Netflix or the New York Times. Interestingly, codeacademy.com, a popular website dedicated to teaching others to code, is also using React to power their web app.

Angular, on the other hand, is used by Microsoft (which should not be that surprising as TypeScript itself has been developed by Windows creators). Microsoft uses Angular to power its Office’s and Xbox’s websites. Among other Angular companies, one can find Delta Airlines, Santander Bank, and Forbes.

What’s In It For You?

We have covered a lot of information on the ReactJS vs Angular, but one question still happened not to be answered: which of these solutions better answers your needs? What is a better choice for your project and your company altogether? Should you join the ReactJS companies or the Angular ones?

The answer may not be that easy, but we will try to put it as simply as possible.

If you are part of a big company with tons of experienced developers and a project to happen that will probably last years, Angular may be a good choice for you. If you can start anything from scratch, letting your app have architecture forced by Google’s solution, Angular may provide you with great effects in the long run.

However, for many other projects, ReactJS may be clearly better. If you are just setting up your start-up or your already existing team is quite small, React may be the correct choice due to a few reasons:

React, being a library, not a framework, does not force on your specific architecture. This may make the life of your developers much easier, especially in the early phases of the app’s creation.
It’s easier to finish the first versions of your app with React, making meeting deadlines smoother.
As the aforementioned StackOverflow survey proves, React is a technology devs love and WANT to work with.

Finally, what you should also consider is making your new project mobile. Both Facebook and Google have their own more mobile-specific solutions: React Native and Ionic. You can read more about it in our article dedicated to this particular React vs Angular battle.

Making the Choice

If you are still unsure about the ReactJS vs Angular choice, feel free to get in touch with us and discuss your project. We do work mostly as a React company but we also managed to run more than a few successful projects with Angular.

We also encourage you to review our other pieces on React web development and Angular. If you are planning to run a mobile app, particularly useful may be our guide to React Native development.

9 Android Mobile App Development Trends in 2019

Ideamotive — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 10:08:02 +0000

Android is undoubtedly the most popular mobile operating system with 75,33% of market share with over 2,6 million apps in Google Play store. So what to do to stand out the crowd?

The product is so popular that the European Commission took it on its spotlight by posing a record-breaking fine of 4.34 billion euro on the Alphabet, Android’s parent company, for abusing the monopolist position.

The fine itself is a real deal and the company is appealing, but it is yet another proof of Android’s dominant position. There is no real alternative: companies willing to pump-up their business with mobile technology steroids need to include Android in their strategy.

Considering that, keeping an eye on the latest Android mobile app development trends to follow is crucial. The curated list provided below is both a glimpse into the future and a long-story-short about the hottest trends of today.

1. Machine Learning and AI in Apps

With the cloud computing bringing the vast amount of computing power for every company, building AI models augmenting daily processes or performing tasks unthinkable before became more accessible. According to Accenture, modern AI accessible today can boost productivity by up to 40%.

Both the strength and the problem with AI is in the versatility of solutions – they can be applied to automate various tasks, including natural language processing, image recognition or data analytics. Moreover, only the process of training is computing-heavy. The already trained neural network can be launched and effectively used on the mobile device, without devouring the processor.

Example:

Google launched it’s Google Lens app that enables the user to take a photo of basically anything and google it. The app is able to read the text from images or to search for the thing depicted, for example, a breed of dog, the name of the actress in the film or is the fruit on the tree edible,

The app is far from being flawless delivering sometimes a bit weird suggestions, but it is a great example of the future to come.

2. Blockchain in Android

Blockchain secures the place of one of the most buzzed technologies in the first half of the XXI century. The buzz is astonishing – PwC survey indicates that 84% of world organizations are actively involved with blockchain technologies.

The most renowned and popular implementation of blockchain technologies are cryptocurrencies – the decentralized payment systems designed to perform swift, no-bank-involved international payments. Due to the lack of any large institution (like a central bank) behind the currencies, the exchange rates are volatile, making the cryptocurrency an interesting investment opportunity.

Example:

The most obvious example is the Blockchain Wallet – an app designed to provide easy access to the cryptocurrencies of the owner. Apart from being a wallet, the app enables the user to swiftly exchange virtual money to leverage the investment possibilities of cryptocurrency.

3. Internet of Things

Saying that a smartphone is a powerful computer in the pocket is trite. The revolution goes deeper – mobile devices are becoming a central control point of daily life, storing information about meetings, emails, contacts and countless bytes of other data.

By apps, the smartphone becomes also the control center of smart devices – smart TV, smartwatches, sports bands, and other wearables. But this is definitely not the last word. With dropping prices, smart home devices are becoming affordable for households with average income. It is predicted that by 2025 there will be 78,44 billion connected devices worldwide – and the affordability is one of the drivers of this mobile app development trend.

Example:

Chinese tech behemoth Xiaomi is a great example, delivering impressive tech for an affordable price, and all the tech comes with dedicated apps, be that electric scooter or a kettle. The latter is a part of Mi Home appliances. The user is able to check the temperature of the water, so the connoisseur of green tea or yerba mate is not forced to check the temperature with a thermometer. Moreover, the kettle can be switched on remotely, so the owner can turn it on while commuting and get his or her boiling water for a te straight in the doorstep.

4. Augmented Reality

The virtual reality is a persistent buzzword being around since Laurence Manning’s short stories published in 1933 and Stanislaw Lem’s “The Star Diaries” published in 1957. But it is still in its infancy. On the other hand, a relatively new Android mobile app development trend of augmented reality is going mainstream. The value of augmented reality gaming is predicted to reach $285 billion by 2023.

Augmented reality is not about creating the artificial world to replace the real one. It is placing additional objects or information in reality for entertainment or information.

Example:

Pokemon Go was a moonshot of augmented reality gaming, preceded by the Ingress, a game that still has a cult following among the conspiracy lovers, both provided by Android app development company Niantic. Outside the gaming world, Ikea Place leverages the augmented reality to provide a mocked-up view of the new furniture inside the customer’s room. Just to check if the color or design fits the rest.

5. Google Instant Apps

Instant Apps are basically a test-drive before purchasing (or downloading and installing the app). The user gets access to the app instantly, so he or she can test it out. The option is both convenient and secure – downloaded apps get access to the device’s storage, making the data breach or other illicit activity easier.

Enabling the user to test the app in the instant mode builds credibility and can be seen as the demo version of the app. Thus, it is a great way to promote the product and the popularity of this approach will rise among Android app development studios.

Example:

The vendor needs to enable the instant app during the android app development process, so the user needs to look for this option for his or herself. Nevertheless, Wish (among others), offers instant access.

6. Virtual Assistant

“Ok, Google” becomes the more common element of people’s daily lives with a growing list of functions of this virtual assistant. Using speech to control the device is both convenient and natural. Moreover, sometimes it boosts safety, especially when the smartphone is used in a car. By 2021 approximately 1,8 billion people will be taking advantage of this technology. Even today 54% of people agree that using this technology makes their daily lives easier.

Example:

Google virtual assistant is a built-in technology in Android, so it may be questionable if it is still an app. It is rather another way around – the assistant is building its way into the rest of the apps by integrating with. Starbucks app is currently integrated with Google Voice Assistant, enabling not only to order a coffee but also to ask for “my favorite one”.

7. Mobile Payments

The NFC technology is nothing new, being widely adopted by payment providers and after installing it into smartphones it was obvious that the competition for mobile payments will rise.

Currently, there are various ways to pay with the phone, starting with Google Wallet, Samsung Pay, and bank-provided apps. With emerging players from China Android will be the next great battlefield of payment providers, with AliPay and MiPay to name the most obvious ones.

Example:

Depending on the market and the situation it may be MiPay, GooglePay, M-Pesa or another interesting tool. The market is yet to be conquered.

8. Security and Enterprise Solutions

The popularity is sometimes not necessary a good thing – especially when considering the appetite the malicious players have on data stored and processed by Android-powered devices. Yet the users, despite having bank and email apps on their devices, feel much more relaxed when it comes to their mobile devices – only 50% of users have any form of protection on their smartphone. By the end of third quarter of 2018 there were over 3,2 million malicious apps identified. Some were designed to steal personal data, others to hijack accounts and wreak financial havoc.

Despite the poor state of user’s security consciousness, Android is a popular business platform, integrated with Google office suite, Gmail and google calendar. Moreover, there is a plethora of apps that are commonly used by companies around the world.

That’s why increasing security and bringing the enterprise-level tools to Android will be one of the most important Android mobile app development trends in 2019.

Example:

The best example is Android itself providing the enterprise version for business users. Xiaomi, providing its own antivirus and security suite for manufactured devices is the next example of hardening the platform against malicious players.

9. Multiplatform Development

The next Android application development trend is a bit parallel to the Android, yet it has a great influence on the whole ecosystem. As delivering mobile apps is currently a must for B2C industries, companies look for ways to optimize the effort put in the development by delivering the multi-platform apps.

One of the best examples is React Native development, where the android app development company is able to reuse up to 70% of the code between the Android, iOS and web apps, effectively saving time and money.

Example:

There are numerous React Native apps examples, starting with Instagram.

Summary:

Android provides companies with a unique opportunity to leverage the latest tech trends while staying with the client in the closest relationship possible. It would be a devastating mistake not to leverage this opportunity.

Originally published at: Android Mobile App Development Trends

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – Picking The Right Approach To Web Development

Ideamotive — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:12:16 +0000

In the late 2004 popular American psychologist, Barry Schwarts came up with a bit counter-intuitive idea, that sometimes having a choice brings much more anxiety and suffering than being left without one. Although his book “The paradox of choice” was mainly about the consumer market, the statement remains true even on the B2B market. The proof is seen when it comes to choosing between Ruby on Rails and Node.js.

The technologies enjoy comparable popularity with Ruby on Rails being a leader. The framework is seen on 1,981% of top 100k sites and 1,279 top million sites while node.js is seen on 1,576% and 0,786% respectively. The share exemplifies in 386,780 websites powered by Ruby on Rails and 117,996 leveraging the Node.js technology.

Interestingly, the Ruby on Rails remains dominant in almost every part of the world except China (6,552 powered by Node.js and 5,505 with Ruby on Rails) and Belarus (1,632 compared with 899 sites).

What is Ruby on Rails?

Ruby on Rails is a framework for Ruby programming language, designed mainly to swift up the code development process and eliminate the bottlenecks of the processes. The framework comes with several important features from the coders’ perspective. The most important is the “Don’t Repeat Yourself” rule, that forces the developer to reuse the components as often as possible, effectively reducing the hidden dependencies within the code and the possibility to ruin something when changes are applied.

Moreover, the framework aims to reduce the amount of required configuration by preparing the environment, that is as much ready-to-go as possible.

The technology is mature with the first stable version released in 2005 and the latest in 2018. It is adopted by various web giants, including Hulu, Shopify, AirBnB and GitHub.

What is Node.js?

Contrary to the Ruby on Rails, Node.js is NOT a framework. The technology is an open-source and cross-platform runtime environment designed to execute JavaScript outside of a browser. The key component of the technology is a Google-designed V8 JavaScript engine, that powers the execution of the code outside the browser.

The project aims to enable developers to use a single programming language throughout the entire project, tackling the traditional separation of front-end and back-end technologies. It is most commonly used in designing the web applications executed in the real-time, like online games and communication tools.

The technology is neither the first approach to executing the Javascript on the server side nor the recent moonshot. The first stable version was published in 2009 and the latest in February 2019. Node.js is used by heavyweight IT players, including Microsoft, LinkedIn, SAP and IBM.

As mentioned above, the Node.js is not a framework, but a runtime environment. To use it, it is crucial to provide the V8 engine, that comes as an interpreter and compiler, that makes running JavaScript outside the browser possible.

On the other hand, Ruby without Ruby on Rails web development framework remains a powerful and versatile programming language but is much less convenient to use.

Why compare them?

At first glance, both technologies appear to be similar. Both shine in the development of the online project and are used by web giants. Both have die-hard enthusiasts, ready to fight to the end in the internet battles.

The situation is far from being simple enough to provide a fair answer on which one to choose all the time. Considering that, we prepared this short guide to keep you informed.

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – User Interface

As many web-based technologies, Ruby on Rails comes with many options to design the interface and deliver the user a more immersive and convenient experience. Yet – tools should be used what are they designed for and Ruby on Rails is not an exception. The language is designed to power the application, so leaving all the UX matters in the virtual hands of Ruby on Rails wouldn’t be the smartest move possible.

On the other hand, Node.js descended from front-end to back-end and is basically a javascript enabled to be used on the server side. Although there are ways to use Node.js on the frontend, why one would make life so complicated when the environment on the backend is fully compatible with javascript?

Verdict: none
In the end, you use something else (hint: no matter what you do, you end with JavaScript).

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – Architecture

Ruby on Rails is a framework, thus the developer is provided with many basic concepts, that powers coding with predefined architectural concepts. The convention over configuration approach enables the developer to focus on designing the code, not to tackle the configuration problems. With Ruby being the object-oriented programming, delivering the consistent and stable architecture is relatively easy.

With the Node.js come all strengths and weaknesses of JavaScript, that is a script language, not designed to deliver and support the backend processes. With the environment come many support functions, yet it is hard to overcome the JavaScript-related limitations on designing modern architecture.

Verdict: Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails is a much better tool to deliver a powerful web architecture. Contrary to JavaScript-powered Node.js it was designed to do so.

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – Speed of coding

Ruby on Rails (and Ruby itself) is one of the modern programming languages designed to be easy to use and to leverage all the modern IT tools. Considering that the Ruby on Rails programmers can deliver the code relatively easy and fast.

Node.js comes with all the power and experience gathered during JavaScript’s years of existence. Thus, there are numerous ready-to-use tweaks. On the other hand, JavaScript provides a limited set of possibilities when compared to the full-scale backend programming language. Considering that, there usually is no straightforward way to solve a problem and the team needs to find numerous detours to reach the destination.

Verdict: Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails web development wins in terms of delivering the solution faster. In the end – it was designed to run all the backend work, not forced to do it by the runtime environment.

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – Performance

Node.js comes with Google-designed V8 engine and it really deserves its automotive-related name. It’s damn fast and its ability to write a high-speed asynchronous code is praised by many web developers. It shines especially in IO heavy operations.

Ruby on Rails is not fully supporting the asynchronous code and concurrency is much harder to achieve and requires more experience from developer. Thus, the performance of Ruby on Rails is visibly lower than in Node.js, although it may still shine in some CPU heavier scenarios.

Verdict: Node.js
Various benchmarks show that the performance of Node.js can be up to 20 times greater than the one provided by Ruby on Rails.

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – Community, and support

JavaScript has an astonishing base of coders, users, and developers, ready to support the team in problem-solving right away. According to the 2018 survey, Node.js’ users speak collectively over 60 languages and a significant share has over 10 years of experience in development.

Despite that, Ruby on Rails is incomparably more popular with 386,780 webpages powered compared to 117,996 supported by Node.js.

The bigger the popularity of the technology, the more support the user can find. So considering the raw numbers, it is much more possible that someone encountered and solved the Ruby on Rails problem, than Node.js-related one. In the same manner, finding the outstanding Ruby on Rails developer is much easier than when it comes to Node.js.

Verdict: Ruby on Rails
despite the JavaScript popularity, Ruby on Rails is a better pick.

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – Stability

When the technology is backed and used by internet giants, serious problems with stability aren’t usually the case. Both technologies are used by heavyweight internet (and not only!) players and come with numerous users around the web.

The key issues around the stability are not in the technologies, but in the way the users approach them. And that’s where the problems start. JavaScript, apart from being a versatile language with a long tradition of deployment, requires more code to deliver the same functionalities than Ruby on Rails. Considering that, there are many more occasions to insert the bug into the code when delivering the Node.js-based product. Moreover, there are many modules for Node.js that are not-that-top-quality and encountering one can end with the stability issues.

Verdict: Ruby on Rails
The stability is not a case in this context – both technologies are stable and can be trusted. The difference is in modules and extensions, where Ruby on Rails dominates the clash.

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – Documentation

Both projects provide solid documentation on core components. The rest varies depending on the effort put by the team delivering the component. Considering the less strict approach to programming seen in Node.js, the add-ons may come in a less trustworthy quality than in Ruby on Rails.

Considering that, there is no clear way to point the better one.

Verdict: Draw

Ruby on Rails vs Node.js – The maturity of the platform

Again, both platforms enjoy the support and usage of internet giants. Both are not fresh kids on the block, with Ruby on Rails initially released in 2004 and Node.js in 2009. Moreover, the Node.js is powered and backed by the legacy (seen in a good way) of JavaScript, that is being used since 1995, the times of the dial-up internet and the Netscape Navigator browser.

Both technologies provide stable versions and are developed in regular releases. There are many companies relying on these technologies and looking for ways to leverage them in their projects.

Finally, both technologies can be easily used alongside and integrated with other popular solutions.

Considering that, there is no doubt that both technologies provide a solid and trustworthy base for any web-based project, be that e-commerce or a SaaS product.

Verdict: Draw Summary: beware the mumbo-jumbo
With both technologies being powerful, flexible and mature, it is challenging to pick the winner. It rather depends on the type of web product you want to create.

When to use Node.js?

When there is a need to use only one language – with the legacy of JavaScript, the company can deliver a complete solution, including, front end, back end, and mobile apps, using only JavaScript. Sometimes that’s fair enough.
When there will be a MASSIVE number of requests – Node.js is visibly better performing than Ruby on Rails, so every app that is going to be heavy on requests to the process can benefit from choosing the Node.js over the Ruby on Rails.

When to use Ruby on Rails?

When the project is heavy on databases – Ruby on Rails shines when it comes to database management and operations on data. The ability to perform requests with the Ruby on Rails code instead of integrating the SQL code comes with numerous advantages and the swiftness of the process is just one of them.
When the clarity is a must – Ruby on Rails comes with numerous best practices and guidelines to follow when developing the project. When combined with the good and clear documentation, the code becomes easy to read, manage and develop by a large, distributed team.
When there is a need for rapid delivery – the framework itself comes with all the technologies the web app would need to be launched – the web server, the database, etc. Thus, there is no need for the integration and configuration or looking for the best match. This saves a lot of time and effort and the development team can just sit and start to code.

Key takeout:

Whatever the project you have to deliver, picking the right tool is the first step to victory. The hardest part of it can be ignoring the fashions and marketing mumbo-jumbo pointing one or other technology as a one-size-fits-them-all and the perfect remedy for all the issues.

And if you decide to go with Ruby – drop us a line! Ideamotive is a Ruby on Rails development company delivering tailor-made web solutions for businesses of all sizes. You can schedule a free consulting session with us here.

Pros And Cons Of IT Nearshoring And Offshoring

Ideamotive — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 08:41:55 +0000

Offshoring? Nearshoring? What are the pros and cons and how to choose the best option?

IT market was never an easy one – there is a limited number of specialists available and skyrocketing need for their knowledge. The problem is widely seen in Europe where, according to the European Commission, a shortage of up to 900 000 skilled ICT workers can be seen in 2020.

World Economic Forum also highlights the problem, as the need for skilled coders and software engineers is booming in the times of the fourth industrial revolution. WEF experts note that 54% of employees will need reskilling by 2022 both to stay on the market and to deliver the workforce needed.

The natural consequence of this situation is the rising cost of ICT workers, especially good ones. Software engineers’ salaries are rising even by 25% yearly and DevOps even more. So many businesses are clinched between the need for skills and limited resources. That’s why it is getting more common to outsource IT processes, both simple and more sophisticated ones, such as software development outsourcing.

IT Outsourcing – What It Is About?

In the basics of outsourcing, there is an idea of taking a business process out of the company and transferring it outside, to a specialized service provider. It is common to outsource accounting and legal operations and companies specialized in these processes get market esteem. KPMG or PwC are among the best examples of international giants providing complex outsourcing services.

According to Global Industry Analytics report, the global outsourcing market will reach around $220 billion by 2020. The estimation is not including cloud-based processes, that are basically a top-tech form of outsourcing particular needs, be that delivering an internal tool or providing computing power.

Software development outsourcing itself is usually divided into offshoring and nearshoring.

What Is Offshoring?

Offshoring is basically a geographical term, imposing that the job to do is being transferred… well… somewhere far away. It is usually used in the context of transferring the processes from a developed economy into an emerging one. Offshoring can include both simple tasks requiring an unskilled workforce and sophisticated tasks that are to be fulfilled by super-skilled teams of experts. That’s basically not in the core of the idea.

Offshoring usually comes with a great deal of savings coming from economical differences. And that’s a natural thing – offshore workers provide good quality for the money they consider fair. And that’s usually less than the local workforce considers as such.

What Is Nearshoring?

Nearshoring is the same concept as offshoring, but the geography changes. in this situation, the company is transferring business processes to the partner in a nearby (or at least close) country. So a single company can be both offshore and nearshore partner, depending on the client it works with.

What Is Onshoring?

Onshoring is the last term when considering the relations between geography and outsourcing. Onshoring transfers the processes to the outsourcing company in the same country, but with all the advantages of IT outsourcing services.

Example:

A single company can be onshore, nearshore and offshore services provider, depending on the geographical localization of the client. So Ideamotive, a Polish software house, is:

IT onshore partner for a Polish e-commerce market leader
IT nearshore partner for a Germany-based retail company
IT offshore partner for US-based tech giant

Offshoring, Nearshoring – Pros And Cons

Considering the fact that all these -shorings refer only to the geographical location of the partner, and in the age of the Internet it matters only for manufacturing business, most of the pros and cons are common. But not all of them!

Expert Knowledge

Outsourced service providers are solely focused on their business – a service they provide. On the other hand, most companies earn their money somewhere else – in manufacturing, sales or providing another type of service. So any supporting role, be that accounting, marketing or IT, is always a cost and is provided by people who are as good as they are – a team is limited to several individuals usually.

A service provider houses dozens or hundreds of experts who face numerous challenges working for multiple clients. A chance that the in-house team will be better than outsourced one is limited (to be honest – that’s impossible except narrow cases like IT security in banks). Moreover, IT outsourcing providers are looking for superstars in the field – offering their services makes difference and working for multiple partners justifies a high paycheck. So it is not a surprise, that in software houses like Ideamotive there are top-notch UX/UI designers, web developers, and mobile developers, that are unseen in in-house teams.

Not Exclusive

A company with multiple partners can feel routine over time and start seeing all the clients as the same. That’s a huge challenge, especially considering the fact that every company is different and even a standard service needs to be adjusted to the client.

But that’s a disadvantage of a particular IT outsourcing company, not of IT outsourcing itself. Yet some companies just don’t feel comfortable with that.

Timezones

That can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on the situation. When it comes to IT nearshoring, the companies are usually in one timezone or the difference is no larger than an hour. Considering that, it is easy to arrange a phone call or a video-conference to discuss any issue. with neighboring countries, it is also easy to meet, both on the neutral ground of conferencing center or in the headquarters of any of the partners.

That’s more a challenge when it comes to offshoring. Although it is common for project managers to respond for a call in the middle of their night, reaching technical leaders may be troublesome. Due to the timezones, arranging the ad-hoc call is nearly impossible.

On the other hand, timezones come with a bunch of unexpected advantages. With an IT offshore partner, it is common to ask for something in the evening and gets it in the morning – their day just came by. For example, if you are based in the US and your IT team is in Europe you know that when you come to work they have been already working almost all day!

Language And Cultural Barrier

With English being lingua franca odd IT the language barrier seems to perish. But not for all. Apart from the language itself, there are even broader gaps regarding the style of working, sticking to the time schedule or the way of communication.

The best example is the punctuality in Northern Europe, while in the south people are more relaxed. Those cultural differences are seen when working with both offshore and nearshore company. But the nearshore one usually consists of people with a known mindset – Poles work with flexibility that always stuns their German partners, but rarely surprises. Working with a partner from far away is always a riddle.

Summary

Considering all the pros and cons, usually the IT nearshoring is the best option available. Knowing the partner and reaching it within the same timezone is a good option when the cooperation needs to be tight – and that’s basically the point of IT outsourcing. Moreover, despite the short geographical distance, economical differences can be significant.

That’s why Eastern Europe (especially Poland) rises as the key IT outsourcing destination. According to the Business Insider Poland has third-best coders in the world, dwarfing Japanese ones and leaving the US or UK ones far behind.

So the conclusion is obvious – right?

The Subjective List Of Conferences Every Startup Should Attend (All Around The World)

Ideamotive — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 10:52:27 +0000

Business conferences around the world provide inspiring speeches and at chunks of fresh, valuable knowledge. Attendees can exchange experiences and talk with people with a similar mindset or sometimes a totally different one, to confront the views and discuss the challenges.

For startups, every conference should be considered an investment, although not necessarily an easy to measure one. The biggest income from meeting various people is not only increasing the number of people who you know. It is also about people who know YOU.

And that’s essential when thinking how to find investors for startup and building the brand, be that personal or corporate one. So with every conference, the company gains attention and builds the presence in the minds of industry leaders. Or at least a group of them who are present at the conference.

On the other hand, every conference is a cost – sometimes not a small one. So there are at least three factors to consider when choosing an event to attend.

Does the conference fit the target group? – there are numerous conferences, from broad ones (just think about South by Southwest), to more or sometimes extreme narrow ones (fintech and security are good examples). While a medical devices manufacturer will be thriving on SXSW it is not probable, that the company will shine among bitcoin-lovers.

How much does it cost to attend – it is not only about sponsoring. It is all about logistics – hotels, commuting, planes, etc.

What is your purpose – is it talent hunting? Looking for an investor? Building contacts? Or maybe an everlasting quest for clients? Always keep in mind that you are in work there and you have some clear KPIs to follow.

If the purpose is clear and the budget is secured, it is high time to cherry-pick the most interesting conferences to attend. But fear not – Ideamotive has done a great deal of job to scrape through world conferences and deliver a totally subjective list of the most interesting conferences for startups when it comes to investor-hunting. From all around the world! (YEP! And the world is not limited to US, trust us!).

Europe

The Old Continent is a heavyweight player when it comes to startup scene, finding strength in its diversity. Packed with both economical powerhouses of Germany, UK and France and aspiring champions (Poland, Czech Republic) Europe is also housing inspiring events to attend. Best picks below.

Startup Europe Week

Not a single event but a coordinated series of semi-independent startup conferences. it promotes entrepreneurship and helps startuppers meet the right people at the right time. Co-organized mostly by volunteers like startups, companies, and stakeholders it delivers unique quality – passion derived from building something together.

And that’s something special. If that’s not the answer on how to find investors for startup, then nothing is.

Where: Decentralized
When: Depends on location
Estimated cost of attendance: Free
Website: http://startupeuropeweek.eu

Startup Ole’

More than 500 speakers and 850 startups gathered on one massive conference – that’s what can be seen on Startup Ole’ in Salamanca in Spain. The event is obviously dominated by the Spanish scene, but it can be a good pick for foreign startups looking for investors that are usually hard to reach due to language and geographical barrier.

Where: Salamanca, Spain
When: March 26-28th
Estimated cost of attendance: Free for general attendance
Website: http://startupole.eu

The Next Web Startup Conference

If the tech solution is on the market for 13 years it is usually considered a legacy one. If the event is on the market for 13 years – it is the TNW conference for sure! When thinking about established (and I mean – established!) event to attend, mixing the best traditions with cutting edge technology, TNW is the best pick existing. With an astonishing base of C-level attendees, the conference is all about networking. And that’s what you are going to do, right?

Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
When: May 9-10th
Estimated cost of attendance:
Cost of Expo Pass: €149 per ticket
Cost of One-Day Pass: €499 per ticket
Cost of Conference Pass: €649 per ticket
Cost of Priority Pass: €799
Website: https://thenextweb.com/conference/

Pirate Summit

Some initiatives are ignited by companies willing to earn money and gather leads. And that’s cool. But there is something truly unique when a grassroots movement gains momentum and become a truly mass event gathering thousands of people. And that’s basically a case of Pirate Summit.

The event gathers mostly entrepreneurs but with every successful start-up, there are investors willing to spot a rising star among those who are willing to gather knowledge. What’s important? the nature of the event imposes a non-official and non-transactional nature of meetings, meaning that a cool guy sitting near the campfire nearby is willing to talk on everything but investing. So no matter how effective you are in sharing your enthusiasm toward your startup, it is not a good place to ask for investment

But if you are a good storyteller, expect an email after the event. And be ready to answer some serious questions on your funding plans…

Where? Cologne, Germany
When? June 26 – 28th
Estimated cost of attendance:
Cost for Startups: €399 per ticket (€199 Early)
Cost for Investors: €799 per ticket (€399 Early)
Cost for General Attendees: €649 per ticket
Website: https://piratesummit.com

Tech Crunch Disrupt

If there is any website that every startupper and investor read, that’s Techcrunch. That’s basically the strongest media brand in the startup world and any Techcrunch-branded conference gathers the most interesting people in the startup ecosystem.

The conference takes everything that’s best in this ecosystem – bold approach toward problems to solve, open mindset and the unique mood of the community, despite being sometimes competing companies. So if anyone asks – how to find investors for startups, the best answer is – there. And you get to spend a few days in the sexy Berlin!

Where: Berlin, Germany
When: December 11 – 12th
Estimated cost of attendance: To be announced
Website: https://techcrunch.com/events/disrupt-berlin-2019/

North America

The startup scene is strong in North America with economic gargants of US and Canada and not less interesting scene of Mexico. The continent, what’s really not surprising, holds a more than a handful of decent startup conferences.

South by Southwest

To be honest – naming the SXSW conference a startup one is a grave underestimation. The nine days between 8 and 147 March change Austin into a crossroads of the world. The event itself is combining interactive arts, music, film and modern technologies to deliver what’s the best in the modern world. One week on SXSW delivers more insights on basically everything that a whole year anywhere else.

So if you had to pick one event from North America – it should be SXSW with no doubt. There will be tonnes of people asking how to find investors for startups and many more providing the answer. Or funding sometimes. The conference gathers numerous startups from Austin and the rest of the world.

And if you are going to SXSW, make sure to check out our SXSW Guide For Startups. Written from the hands-on experience 🙂

Where: Austin, Texas, US
When: March, 8-17 March
Estimated cost of attendance:
Get Primary Access to ALL Events. $1,225
Get Primary Access to INTERACTIVE Events. $895
Website: https://www.sxsw.com

Collision

One of the most prominent startup conferences in Canada, Collision brings 25,000 participants from all around the world, including top investors and C-level executives of international companies. The event offers mentoring sessions, workshops and dedicated office hours with investors.

Where: Toronto, Canada
When: 20-23 May
Estimated cost of attendance: To be announced
Website: https://collisionconf.com

Digital Summit Seattle

Digital Summit is another decentralized and series-based event to attend. The event brings together innovators, thought and business leaders from all around the world. The program is filled with content delivered by market leaders like Facebook, Amazon or Microsoft. With speakers, there is always a bunch of business and tech people following, willing to mentor startuppers and listen to their visions of business.

Where: Seattle, Washington
When: 26-27 February
Estimated cost of attendance:
Conference Pass ($245)
Plus Pass ($345)
Premium Pass ($445)
Platinum Pass ($995)
Website: https://seattle.digitalsummit.com

LTV Conference

Fun fact – this event was originally hosted in London, but recently it was moved to New York. The event is mainly focused on SaaS businesses, including companies and startups, yet it gathers investors from all around the world. And by the way, it is a great occasion to see New York startup accelerators.

Where: New York
When: 2-4 April
Estimated cost of attendance:
Super Early Bird – Individual $499
Super Early Bird – Partnership (2 Tickets) $949
Super Early Bird – Team (4 Tickets) $1,799
Early Bird $599
Early Bird – Partnership $999
Early Bird – Team $1,899
Onsite Registration – Individual $999
Website: https://ltvconf.com

South SUMMIT

Despite the modern paradigm of a global village, cultural heritage never loses power. That’s basically in the foundation of South Summit Conference, that bridges Spain and Mexico in gathering tech-oriented folks, investors and companies interested in innovations.

Where: Mexico City
When: 3 December
Estimated cost of attendance: Undisclosed
Website: https://cdmx.southsummit.co

Asia

Asian startups are even more diverse than European ones, especially considering the diversity of the continent. There are both emerging markets with shooting stars and talented coders, and economic behemoths with plenty of investors willing to provide an answer on how to find investors for startup.

RISE

Probably the largest tech conference in Asia, RISE is a melting pot for this diverse and dynamic continent. The event gathers entrepreneurs, startuppers, and investors as well as journalists and hundreds of tech and business influencers. There are over 16.000 attendees from more than a hundred countries willing to listen to more than 350 speakers, with at least a dozen knowing how to get funding for startup.

Where: Hong Kong
When: 8-11 July
Estimated cost of attendance: General Attendee – $1629
Website: https://cdmx.southsummit.co

Communicasia

The key conference when it comes to ICT business in Asia. It gathers thought leaders from all the markets. The conference is being organized annually for 30 years in the row, dwarfing similar events. The participants discuss the system integrations, satellite operations and challenges for mobile operators.

It is undoubtedly an investor-hunting ground for any startup from the niche.

Where: Singapore
When: 9-11 June
Estimated cost of attendance: To be announced
Website: https://www.communicasia.com

Africa

In Ideamotive we believe that the world is not limited to Europe and North America. In our text on best African startups, we delivered a list of the most noteworthy entrepreneurs from all around the continent. Apparently, it holds some interesting events also.

Africa Tech Summit Kigali

The conference in Kigali gathers talented entrepreneurs and interesting startups from all the region, enabling to establish valuable connections.

Where: Kigali, Rwanda
When: 13-15 February
Estimated cost of attendance: To be announced
Website: https://www.africatechsummit.com

Africa Tech Week

Hosted in one of three capital cities of South Africa, the economic powerhouse of the continent, it aims to build and support more valuable connections between startups, investors and tech talents. Uniquely, the conference brings the attendees from state administrations and international organizations willing to solve African challenges.

So if you own some socially conscious startup – it may be a top shot.

Where: Cape Town, South Africa
When: 4-5 March
Estimated cost of attendance: To be announced
Website: https://africatechweek.co.za

Australia

The western country in the far east, Australia provides a closed market with even more closed ecosystem of startups. Yet the market is unexplored for many SaaS providers and the internet knows no borders (except maybe North Korea). So why not?

Launch Festival

Some claim that the Launch Festival is the largest one in the world. It was hosted in San Francisco for 10 years, yet then moved to Sydney for its 2018 edition. The event is free for founders, so it holds a great opportunity for investors to spot early-stage superstars to support.

Where: Sydney, Australia
When: 18-19 June
Estimated cost of attendance: Free for startups
Website: https://www.launchfestivalsydney.com

Startcon

The growth-focused conference, Startcon delivers know-how and inspiration for startuppers willing to grow their business or get funding for startup they own. With more than 750 startups attending, willing to listen to more than 65 speakers, the conference delivers a solid chunk of business knowledge and even bigger opportunities.

Think about the isolation of the Australian market. You will be fresh blood.

Where: Sydney, Australia
When: 30 Nov-1 Dec
Estimated cost of attendance: General $295
Networking $495
VIP $795
Website: https://www.startcon.com

Summary

When ‘thinking global” startups usually limit themselves to focusing on the US and western Europe. That creates a market with the overcrowded sector and nearly empty space just a few hundred miles from there. So think global, act global and don’t be afraid to explore new markets. Who knows what talents and investors are waiting there for you!

And if you have some free time on the schedule, you can see some good conferences on app development too!

Ruby on Rails vs Django – Which One To Pick For Your Web Project?

Ideamotive — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 11:43:57 +0000

When it comes to choosing the right framework for online app development, picking the right technology can be both a rocket fuel and the arrow in the knee. The time has come to compare the Ruby on Rails and Django and spot both the pros and cons of every each one.

Both technologies are relatively popular with Django powering 74,405 websites out there on the web compared to 387,696 ones supported by Ruby on Rails, Both technologies are free to use and are used to deliver not only a website but all the hidden machinery behind, powering the web-based apps that support various businesses, including e-commerce sites and different SaaS solutions.

Yet despite sharing numerous similarities, both technologies differ significantly.

What is Ruby on Rails?
Ruby on Rails is a framework that was designed for the Ruby programming language. As a framework, it forces the coder to follow a set of predefined rules that power up delivering a better result. For Ruby on Rails the most significant rules are:

Don’t repeat yourself – the framework tackles the problem of hidden similarities by supporting programmers to reuse as much code as possible. Thus, there are no hidden standalone classes used only once and hard to find within numerous lines of the code.
Convention over configuration – the framework delivers a predefined set of rules that enables the users to get rid of the pain of configuring the environment, Thus, the code is clearer and more portable, and the coders are more relaxed due to being freed from more administrative work.
Ruby on Rails is a widely used technology, supported by tech giants including Hulu (web streaming platform), Basecamp (the project management tool that the Ruby on Rails was invented for), GitHub (the most powerful version control tool out there) and Airbnb (online bookings service).

What is Django?
Django is a child of one of the most popular modern programming languages – Python. It is a framework designed to use this versatile language in web development and web apps. Due to Python’s affiliation with machine learning appliances, the framework shines when used on database-heavy apps. Contrary to Ruby on Rails, the framework itself doesn’t support any particular coding style and is designed rather as a tool only to be used in the way coders consider the best and not to support any particular style or heuristic.

Django is used by various heavyweight internet players including Mozilla or The Washington Times.

Why compare them?
Despite the differences in the programming paradigms and approaches to solving popular problems, both frameworks are good at similar appliances. Both are open source, fast and support powerful internet apps. Both are object-oriented and dynamically-typed and offer persistent support,

So what are those differences that, say, make difference?

Ruby on Rails vs Django – User Interface
Both Django and Ruby on Rails are web-centered frameworks designed to deliver the high-class experience. Both frameworks enable companies to build marvelous websites and enrich them with various add-ons and plugins.

With both technologies being mature and well-developed, it is hard to pick the better-looking one. The key is in the coder’s skills.

Verdict: Draw.

Ruby on Rails vs Django – Architecture
Ruby on Rails web development is praised for its adoption of Model-View-Controller (MVC) paradigm, enabling to find a match between the task to perform and the way the user is thinking, enabling the programmers to avoid the foggy structures known from early deployments and legacy tech.

Django is putting less pressure in delivering the architecture, putting trust in the programmer’s skill. Sometimes it is a much better approach when the coding team has superior skill in designing the app and can find a way to deliver the over-the-top experiences.

But is that really a point so many times? Is that really a point in your case?

Verdict: By forcing the team to follow a strict set of preset rules, Ruby on Rails delivers a better app architecture.

Ruby on Rails vs Django – Speed Of Coding
Both Ruby (the backbone of Ruby on Rails web development) and Python (used in Django) are modern programming languages that embrace the best practices from the past and shun their mistakes.

Ruby on Rails benefits from the rich repository of libraries and plugins (called gems) to enrich the project, significantly reducing the effort the coder need to invest. On the other hand, Ruby is a typical programming language that supports the coder’s freedom to solve the problem in the way he or she considers the best one.

Contrary to Ruby, Python follows the philosophy that insists that there should be one way (preferably, the only one) obvious way to solve the encountered problem. Thus, the code is usually more legible and easier to debug. On the other hand – the team has to know the way.

Verdict: Depends on the project, with Ruby on Rails boosted by Gems and Django by Python’s paradigm of one way to solve the problem.

Ruby on Rails vs Django – Performance
When it comes to comparing the performance, both frameworks do a good job and it is nearly impossible to point the winner. Both technologies leverage modern programming languages and deliver the tools to optimize the code.

The differences can be seen depending on the app to be delivered. Ruby on Rails shines when it comes to building a general purpose app for e-commerce or a similar project. On the other hand, Django leverages the versatility of Python to build a better-performing specific-use app.

Verdict: stalemate. No clear winner with multiple pros and cons around insignificant boosts of performance.

Ruby on Rails vs Django – Community And Support
The statistics shown in the text’s introduction clearly show the dominance of the Ruby on Rails developers when it comes to delivering the web apps and online systems. Thus, there is a thriving community that supports new users and provide them with bits of advice on problem-solving.

Django itself is significantly less popular technology, thus the probability of encountering the previously unknown problem is visibly bigger. On the other hand, Python’s popularity is skyrocketing, making this language the biggest gainer in 2018. Yet Python is a jack-of-all-trades type of language, that finds appliances in machine learning, backend and web-development, thus not all Python users can help in solving a problem. Ruby is more web-centered, thus the community is more monolithic, focused on a particular use case, polished and mastered.

Verdict: when it comes to web projects, Ruby wins the comparison.

Ruby on Rails vs Django – Stability
There is a constant struggle between creativity and stability. Looking for new ways to solve the problem is essential for progress. On the other hand, everything that’s new can bring instability. Ruby on Rails tackles this problem by encouraging the user to reuse the code to reduce the hidden dependencies. Moreover, it leverages the convention over configuration paradigm, so the coders are freed of many pain points.

On the other hand, Python brings a more conservative approach to coding and encourages the developers to stick to the one, proven way to solve the problem. When it comes to stability – that’s a good thing.

In fact, both frameworks are mature and tested enough to be stable and provide a reliable backbone of any project.

Verdict: Draw. No significant differences.

Ruby on Rails vs Django – Documentation
There are no reasons to complain, to be honest. Both teams responsible for a framework development did a great job preparing the documentation for the projects they deliver. The interfaces are plain to read, the language is legible and straightforward, with no riddles hidden within.

Thus, there is no real difference when it comes to documentation.

Verdict: draw with no real match before.

Ruby on Rails vs Django – The maturity of the platform
Ruby on Rails came to life in 2004 and is widely adopted in the web development community. There are hundreds of thousands websites in the internet that leverage the power and flexibility of this technology. It is also regularly updated, with the latest release from August 2018.

Django is no different, born in 2005 and with the newest version released in April 2019. The technology proved itself numerous times and the best proof of its reliability is the sole fact that it is compared with Ruby on Rails on equal rights.

Verdict: Draw.

Summary – pick the right tool to get the best result
Both frameworks are great and deliver superior performance when used in the right way. The key is to know when to use each one.

When to use Django
Django leverages the flexibility of Python and relies on the coders’ experience and responsibility for the project. It shines when:

The app to deliver is highly customizable and specific – if the client requires to deliver the new social network, Django is a better pick with no doubt.
When you really know what you’re doing – and you are 100% sure about it.
The app is going to be devilishly complex – delivering the system that performs complicated data operations and aims to be a monolithic multitool behemoth is better when built with Django.
When to use Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails is a framework that automates the process of coding and makes the coder’s job much easier. The framework shines when:

When there is high pressure on time – Ruby on Rails leverages a rich library of plugins and even richer community of Ruby on Rails programmers. Thus, the probability of delivering the project faster and with less effort (and with higher quality in the end!) is much higher.
When your project is relatively repeatable – this framework is great when it comes to delivering a project that is not reinventing the wheel – if the client needs a reliable technology to power-up the e-commerce system or deliver the app to support internal business processes, Ruby will be a much better pick.
When the project is not a world-class game changer – although Ruby on Rails is great when supporting the project that is going to break all the rules and change the world, its monolithic architecture can be too obsolete and heavy to power up something smaller. And the worldwide web composed of smaller beings. When thinking about web app Yoda was quite right – size doesn’t matter.

Considering all factors mentioned above, most of the times Ruby on Rails will be a better pick – it enables a faster delivery for a smaller scale project, with many solutions ready to go.

Originally published at https://ideamotive.co/blog/ruby-on-rails-vs-django

PHP or Ruby on Rails – Which One To Pick Your Next Web Product?

Ideamotive — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 08:26:16 +0000

A venerable veteran or a prodigy? PHP or Ruby on Rails – which one to pick for a web development? Answer is not that obvious.

When it comes to internet development there were two technologies that had transferred static webpages done in sturdy HTML into the interactive multimedia tech of today. First one is JavaScript, enabling the user to polish a frontend of the solution. The second one is the PHP, that stands somewhere in between the frontend and the backend, standing behind the power of most popular solutions including WordPress and Magento.

But is one of the most renowned technologies still relevant in 2019? Can it stand comparison with modern languages and frameworks like Ruby on Rails?

What is Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails is a framework for Ruby language designed to make coding easier, faster and more convenient for web developers. The technology imposes numerous good practices including DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) that encourages developers to reuse blocks of code.

Also, the tool follows the Convention over Configuration path, enabling developers to minimize the configuration work by proposing a predefined environment.

Ruby on Rails is one of the most popular technologies in the world, powering over 824 thousands of websites out there. It was included on the list of 20 most popular technologies in the world delivered by TIOBE Index and ranked 13th on StackOverflow’s ranking of the most popular programming languages. And there are many awesome websites using this technology.

What is PHP
PHP is a script language designed to deliver websites and web apps in real time. It is one of the most renowned technologies in the web, used by 79% of all websites existing. PHP powers up popular open source solutions with WordPress and Magento being among the most popular ones. Facebook was initially delivered in PHP and later on translated to C++.

Fun fact about PHP is that every year commentator and experts debate on if the language is dead or is going to be dead soon. But this time PHP has a lot of in common with Mark Twain, as the report on its death is an exaggeration.

Why should we compare them?
In fact, comparing PHP with Ruby on Rails is not that fair. PHP is a programming language, while Ruby on Rails is a framework. So it would be much fairer to compare RoR with some PHP framework, be that Zend or Symfony2.

But not really when it comes to PHP programming. Most developers prefer to cherry-pick own set of libraries and plugins to leverage in their project, effectively creating own framework. Due to PHP legacy, most popular frameworks are making coding more complicated, not less as in case of Ruby on Rails web development framework. So in fact building, a comparison done on framework vs. framework basis would be inherently flawed.

So how those technologies perform when compared?

Ruby on Rails vs PHP – User Interface
PHP has a strong background as a tool to connect websites with databases. It was not designed to make the webpage shine, but to enable the user to access a vast array of content. It works well when it comes to that, but to deliver an astonishing user experience it needs to be supported with additional technologies like JavaScript.

Ruby on Rails is known for delivering shining and polished websites that enhance the user experience. It is a modern technology, born after the UX principles and fully backing building the user-centric websites.

Verdict: Ruby on Rails outruns PHP. Double time.

Ruby on Rails vs PHP – Architecture
Ruby on Rails is praised for adopting the Model-View-Controller paradigm, effectively forcing the user to follow the best practices on building apps. Thus, when the user properly, the framework comes with well-performing and stable architecture.

PHP, as mentioned above, is usually used saute, with every developer building own stack of technologies. it gives freedom – including the freedom to deliver messy code and unstable architecture. The quality depends only on the skills of the developer.

Verdict: So again, Ruby on Rails vastly outperforms PHP.

Ruby on Rails vs PHP – Speed of coding
With DRY principle and Convention over configuration forced, Ruby on Rails web development enables developers to do what is best at – coding. It cuts off a lot of time usually wasted for mundane work of configuration and delivering a programming environment.

PHP again usually comes to saute, with no tools to speed up configuration or any other aspect. So the language, despite being relatively easy, can provide a headache during the implementation of the end solution.

Verdict: sorry, PHP. Not this time

Ruby on Rails vs PHP – Performance
Ruby on Rails is fast and elegant. It delivers good-performing code backed by good programming practices and reliable architecture.

PHP is a programming language, so it is hard to determine if its performance is better than RoR. With full freedom to deliver marvelous (or crappy) code.

But assuming that there are only development stars on board, PHP outperforms Ruby on Rails. But to be honest – are there? It is not that easy to find a star, no matter if you are looking for Ruby on Rails web developer or PHP coder.

Verdict: PHP. But only when done well

Ruby on Rails vs PHP – Community & support
PHP is renowned, venerable, rustproof and unsinkable. Considering that, there is a strong demand for PHP coders. Also, with PHP being around since 1995 there is a gargantuan library of tricks, Q&As, and already solved problems. Moreover, there are numerous PHP developers on GitHub or Stack Overflow to help both on the language itself and particular technologies like WordPress or Magento.

Ruby on Rails is much younger technology, yet already mature, with a thriving community. But there is no way to outrun the experiences gained since 1995.

Verdict: PHP, Sometimes nothing beats experience. And that’s the case.

Ruby on Rails vs PHP – Stability
With MVC and DRY paradigms forced, Ruby on Rails delivers little to no issues with stability. By reusing blocks of code, developers ensure there are no hidden dependencies or hardcoded info that should have been inserted as a variable.

With PHP there is total freedom. It means bot freedom to create or to destroy. With no imposed rules but the programmer skills, the stability heavily depends on the coder’s skills. That can mean anything – from total unbreakability to a minefield.

Verdict: RoR delivers some level of stability for granted. PHP is ranged from “unbreakable” to “snowflake”. When approaching an unknown land, Ruby on Rails seems to be a better pick.

Ruby on Rails vs PHP – Documentation
Ruby on Rails comes with clear, legible and logical documentation, that supports Ruby on Rails programmers on every aspect of their job.

PHP on contrast comes with documentation designed in 1995, the pre-good-practices era. Sometimes riddled or inconsistent, usually omitted due to extensive help available in the Internet.

Verdict: Ruby comes with better documentation. PHP lacks one, but does it really matter this time?

Ruby on Rails vs PHP – The maturity of the platform
Ruby on Rails is one of these technologies that are mature enough to get rid of teething problems yet modern enough to be compatible with the newest trends.

And when talking about PHP – is that an issue? Really?

Verdict: PHP. Maybe Fortran is more mature out there.

Summary:
When to use PHP?
PHP is currently the most popular web language. Its popularity comes from a vast amount of open source software using it. So if the problem is totally standard with no perspectives to be tweaked in any way, PHP can be a good choice. A totally standard blog can be run on WordPress with no doubt in the same manner as e-commerce can be supported by Magento.

But if you look for something more sophisticated, the tech from previous millennium can be a risky choice.

When to use Ruby on Rails?
Ruby on Rails development is a mature and stable technology to support more sophisticated solutions. Moreover, as a web-centric framework, RoR enables companies not only to digitize but to augment business processes with new possibilities. When the company needs something more than “standard” or “typical” solution, Ruby on Rails is a better pick, especially when you need some sophisticated e-commerce product or SaaS product.

To be honest – would you like your company to be “typical” and “standard” one?

Originally published at https://ideamotive.co/blog/php-vs-ruby-on-rails