DEV Community: Marek Caputa

Ruby On Rails Staff Augmentation: How To Scale Your Team?

Marek Caputa — Tue, 25 May 2021 11:48:35 +0000

Are you a startup or thinking of building a new SaaS project but confused in choosing the right technology? Well, Ruby on Rails is the best technology and the correct answer to all your questions.

The popularity and success of businesses like Airbnb, Shopify, and GitHub have made it very clear that Ruby on Rails is an excellent tool for startups to reach the heights of success. Ruby is perfect for developing SaaS solutions, MVPs, and cross-platform applications.
Whereas, Rails still has the most popular communities on GitHub with over 4k contributors.

The quality level and fast development pace have increased the demand of Ruby on Rails developers. They are highly appreciated and desired by companies worldwide. As a startup, you might want to hire such experienced developers, but how to hire them?

Hiring An In-House Ruby on Rails Developer is Hard

According to Indeed.com, there are 2,642 Ruby on Rails job posts in the US and only 278 resumes available on the Indeed website. Hiring an in-house or full-time Ruby on Rails developer is hard. However, it brings many benefits, such as a dedicated focus on your project, timely and robust communication, and easy management. No such developer would wish to work for a small web app project, and it will be costly to hire someone like that in a startup.

This article will discuss Ruby on Rails staff augmentation and how to scale a team in a startup using the same tactic.

So, let’s begin:

What is Ruby on Rails Staff Augmentation and how it’s Different from other Hiring Models?

Before learning more about RoR staff augmentation, let's first discuss the options to hire a Ruby on Rails developer via a company using traditional methods such as in-house or freelance.

Employ In-House Ruby on Rails Developer

In-house hiring means that the developer will sit in your office and work only on your project. The pros and cons of hiring in-house developers are as follow:

Pros:

In-house developers will give full consideration to your project and will be available when you need them. With dedicated resources, you can complete the project development in a short time.
With an in-house developer, it is easier to communicate without any silos. Face-to-face communication makes it easier for the developer to understand your expectations.
Having a developer in-house makes it easier for you to manage their time and tasks. You can manage a developer's workflow with daily meetings, demos, and retrospectives.
With an in-house developer, the secrecy of your project is kept within the company, and the ideas remain unshared with other companies.

Cons:

With the shortage of experienced and qualified Ruby on Rails developers, it is not easy to hire one for your team.
Such experienced and many in-demand developers won't accept your offer to work on a short-term project.
Even if you find a Ruby on Rails developer to hire for your company, it will be too costly for you to manage.

Hire a Freelance Ruby on Rails Developer

If you can't afford to hire an in-house developer, or if you already have a software development team, need a Ruby on Rails specialist, then you can consider the freelancing option.

Here're the pros and cons of freelancers.

Pros:

A freelance Ruby on Rails specialist will be cheaper considering an in-house developer.
Experienced Ruby on Rails developers can easily take freelancing jobs as a sidekick for their monthly income.

Cons:

The speed of development will be slow considering the in-house developer.
There can be a lack of communication once you start the project.
Freelancer developers work on multiple projects simultaneously so it can cause delays on your project

Now, we have seen the pros and cons of both in-house and freelance options, and in both cases, your company may have to compromise either on speed or cost. But, what about if you can get the pros of both options using one single method. This is the best hiring method, as we called it Staff Augmentation.

What is IT Staff Augmentation?

Staff Augmentation is hiring an outside specialist to fill the gaps on projects in compliance with the current business objectives. It means that a Ruby on Rails specialist will be employed temporarily to augment your organization's capacity. May it be a web services project or an app development, project management is easier with the staff augmentation method. You can also hire a specialized Ruby on Rails developer for a trial period.

When Should you Consider Staff Augmentation?

Staff Augmentation, especially for Ruby on Rails developers, can be considered in the following scenarios:

The company has a limited budget or wants to save up on the cost of development.
In case of launching a new project and need extra staff for short term
When the project needs specialized knowledge
For detailed testing of the project before launching

One of the best ways to scale a project is Staff Augmentation. Suppose your company's in-house developers cannot provide the solution or don't have the required expertise. In that case, staff augmentation is the most affordable option as it is cheap and flexible.

Pros & Cons of RoR Staff Augmentation

There are pros and cons attached to the RoR staff augmentation method as well. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons.

Pros of RoR Staff Augmentation

Experience & Expertise

Integrate exceptional software engineers into your team quickly to boost the capability and add value to your project.

More Hiring Options

Search and recruit the different tools and techniques required for each project easily. There is no need for talent retention to think about. What is more, software development houses also have access to experienced designers and front-end specialists. With a trusted partner like that, there is no need to go through the entire recruitment process - you ask, you will get.

Instant Know-How

Support the experience of an extended team to reduce any project delays and interruptions.

Flexibility

With on-demand talent, you can scale up or down the development team as required, no matter if means more back-end engineers or specific domain experts.

Cons of RoR Staff Augmentation

Possible Ramp-ups

Projects that necessitate a high understanding of the company's culture and context may necessitate ramp-up times.

Reliance on Internal Processes

Internal operational flaws can have a detrimental impact on outsourced staffing solutions.

Workflow Matching

Working with large teams is unfamiliar territory for many companies. It can take some time to adjust to their speed.

Where to Find a Ruby on Rails Development Company

There are many methods for locating and evaluating a Ruby on Rails Development Company.

Option #1: Portfolio

One of the best pieces of evidence of a company's competence is its portfolio of projects that they helped create, design, and launch. You can find case studies of completed projects and consumer testimonials in a portfolio. You can correlate a customer's testimonial to his or her feedback on Clutch and GoodFirms to see if the feedback is genuine and appropriate.

Option #2: Rating Websites like Clutch

Platforms like Clutch and GoodFirms collect customers' reviews and suggestions. You can trust the feedback since it is moderated and reviewed by non-involved experts.

Option #3: Events and Conferences

Many development companies can also be found at IT conferences and other new technology-related activities. Some development organizations not only attend but also organize such activities to express their views. If your project involves blockchain or machine learning, search for vendors that have successfully implemented these technologies at conferences.

Option #4: Company Blogs

Another way of judging the expertise of a development company is by analyzing their blog section. A good development company maintains a high-quality and informational blog section with stories and case studies related to their expertise and past experiences. You can read about their process to develop software, such as “Steps to build Healthcare Web & App.” From the blog section and the content on the website, you can judge if they have expertise in RoR staff augmentation.

Option #5: LinkedIn Profiles

Companies in the development industry use LinkedIn to extend their internet presence and inform potential clients about their history, community, values, and all of the great products they've released. On LinkedIn, you can find out what path an organization wants to take and what its objectives are in the long run.

What Questions Should You Ask A RoR Developer In the Interview?

Before you ask, "Will you join our company?" make sure the two of you are a perfect fit. The best way to conduct an interview is to gather all the information on call by an HR assistant. Later, call on the candidate for an Interview in the office premises.

The interview should be conducted by the CTO and Senior Ruby on Rails Developer. Get detailed information about the candidate's technological expertise, involvement in emerging technology, and motivation for self-development in the IT sector during the interview.

Here are some of the questions that you should ask a RoR Developer:

Knowledge about Object-oriented programming languages, structures and algorithms
Experience and level of expertise in Ruby language and its concepts
Knowledge of Ruby on Rails framework that allows creating a simple CRUD application at different levels
Expertise in SQL language and ActiveRecord ORM
Understanding of generated SQL queries
Knowledge and experience in HTTP protocol
Knowledge and experience in HTML & CSS
Knowledge and experience in JavaScript language and frameworks: JQuery, ReactJS

The degree of knowledge needed is highly dependent on the position (Junior/Regular/Senior) for which the applicant is applying. Don't just ask questions. Create some basic tasks to test the candidate thought processes.

Soft skills such as communication (Level of English) and proactive approach is also a very important aspect to measure during the interview. English proficiency in speaking and understanding is important because you may have clients from different regions, English is a global language to overcome the language barriers.

Final Thoughts

Hiring Ruby on Rails developers is demanding as they know their worth. Therefore RoR staff augmentation is the best method to scale your Software Development team in the company.

Hire an outside Ruby on Rails specialist to fill the gap in your current development team.

If you are looking for an experienced Ruby and Ruby on Rails development team, contact us to schedule a call with our experts. We are serving in the industry since 2005 and have worked with many clients from startups to big enterprises. Our software solutions have brought tremendous success to our clients in their businesses. We can provide you with a fully-fledged team of designers and QA engineers to make your project the best it can be.

Design SaaS Product: 4 Reasons Why You Should Choose Ruby On Rails Framework

Marek Caputa — Wed, 12 May 2021 07:08:58 +0000

Software as a Service (SaaS) is one of the most widely-used techniques for software development. The popularity of SaaS has grown rapidly over the last decade around the globe. SaaS brings benefits not only to the users but also software companies as it reduces time and costs of development, allows scalability, seamless integration and accessibility to users.

Like all other industries, Covid-19 Pandemic has also hit the SaaS growth rate. According to GLOBE NEWSWIRE, "Software as a service (SaaS) Global Market Report 2020-30: Covid 19 Impact and Recovery" report, the market is expected to recover and grow CAGR of 10% from 2021 and reach $253 billion in 2023.

There are many frameworks available for SaaS development, but one of the most effective and highly recommended is Ruby on Rails. In this article, I will blend the technical aspects of designing SaaS using the Ruby on Rails framework to prove it is a perfect choice for your project.

What is a SaaS product?

The simplest definition of a SaaS product is:

A SaaS product is online software that is available to all users.

The world’s most renowned SaaS companies include DropBox and Google Apps. Since the cloud manages the software, customers do not need to download anything on their devices to use SaaS platforms. The host side handles all updates and repairs, which are hidden from the user. The product is available every month rather than as a one-time purchase.

How is SaaS Product Software Development Different?

The software-as-a-service model outperforms conventional software distribution methods. Here are some of the pointers that differentiate a SaaS product from a product developed with conventional software methods:

Not only do software providers profit from the SaaS model. Users can access the app through a web browser on any device with an Internet connection at any time.
Users often do not have to wait for the software to be updated.
SaaS product creation is a powerful way to produce applications, but it comes with many technological challenges. For starters, SaaS products rely on a stable infrastructure to properly handle user data. API development, third-party integration, and availability issues are all important considerations for developers. This is why selecting a hosting provider for your SaaS application needs extra care.
Building a SaaS product necessitates a unique strategy for database, code, and server management. As a result, selecting a technology stack for your SaaS product takes careful thought.

What Language and Framework are Best for Building a SaaS Product?

For SaaS growth, almost any language can be used; languages like PHP, Java, and Python can easily be integrated with the frameworks or resources you will need, such as database systems or software libraries.

Some languages and technological stacks, however, are superior to others. When building your MVP, choosing a language with tested and established frameworks and libraries will save you a lot of time and money.

Here’s a list of the most common frameworks for SaaS product development.

Ruby on Rails - The first application written in Ruby on Rails framework, or RoR, was a project management tool Basecamp that was using the SaaS model. Ruby on Rails framework is a very developer-friendly framework that provides a great number of free open-source libraries.

Django - Django is the most popular Python framework for building web applications and SaaS-based products. It is well-known for its high out-of-the-box security protection and easy API creation.

Express.js - One of the most powerful and, therefore, well-known frameworks for Node.js is Express.js. Express.js can boast of good server-side rendering and performance. It can address a significant number of simultaneous calls with extensive throughput.

The question is which framework is best for SaaS and highly recommended by experts. The answer is Ruby on Rails is one of the best and highly recommended. Why? Let’s check out.

Is Ruby on Rails a good framework for building a SaaS product?

It is wise to pay attention to four critical traits of the language and framework for your SaaS product:

Performance
Security
Flexibility
Scalability

And Ruby on Rails has it all—here's why you should consider it when choosing a language for SaaS development.

Pros and Cons of using Ruby on Rails

Let’s discuss the pros and cons of using Ruby on Rails Framework for SaaS product development.

Pros:

It's easy to set up
It speeds up development – Rail is a platform full of tried-and-true functionality implementations, so your developers won't have to start from scratch. Your team will have access to many libraries (both free and paid) that will be useful when building your domain.
Debugging is easy in Rails
The use of Ruby and RoR is continually growing.
Since many small businesses have adopted Ruby and RoR, the language and framework are surrounded by a more experimental and exploratory user community.
It's simple to find and recruit talented developers familiar with the framework; in reality, your developers can already be familiar with Ruby and RoR. If not, getting the devs up to speed on RoR is a breeze.
Ruby and RoR are ideal for fast-paced environments.

Cons:

Ruby and Ruby on Rails cannot be as fast as other programming languages.
Ruby on Rails doesn't have a built-in module for dealing with multi-tenancy if you're creating a multi-tenancy product.

4 Advantages of RoR that will make your SaaS Product Groundbreaking

At Selleo, we prefer Ruby on Rails as a reliable and robust framework for SaaS product development. Let’s dig into more details on why the Ruby on Rails framework is an excellent option for SaaS development.

# 1: Convention over Configuration

Ruby on Rails is one of the most developer-friendly frameworks which follows the Convenient over Configuration concept. The framework allows easy implementation of new functionality. Based on the principles such as DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) and KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid), the framework guarantees that the code is clean and clitter-free.

Ruby on Rails framework follows the MVC (model-view-controller) pattern. It allows for the modularity and extensibility of applications in SaaS product development. Due to this reason, any RoR application, no matter its complexity, can easily be molded with new functionalities.

# 2: High Development Speed

Ruby 3.0 got significantly faster compared to its previous versions. The thread performance was measured by the Optcarrot benchmark based on NES’s game emulation workload and came back with a fantastic score.

Using this framework, developers do not need to reinvent the wheel to use proven feature implementations. The community of RoR developers has already publicized the implementation of authentication systems, commenting, payments, and many other services.

Ruby on Rails framework shortens the time-to-market of your SaaS product and lowers the development cost.

# 3: GEMS

Ruby uses “gems” to provide added functionality. A gem called Devise gives developers robust authentication functionality. Devise allows you to define which routes within your application require authentication

Ruby on Rails framework provides developers a wide variety of GEMS that are free, open-source libraries. Today, you can use 161,750+ gems to combine proven implementations made by a large and enthusiastic Rails community. When these ready solutions are available, there is no need for your developers to redevelop these features.

# 4: Security

Rails provide some solid out-of-the-box protection. Its SQL injection is handled well by the default Rails object-relational mapper (ORM), Active Record. XSS is protected by default. All string text is escaped before being sent to the browser.

Rails also have default security headers that protect applications from clickjacking, and it can be easily overlooked.

Another gem, Pundit, defines resource-level access control for REST resources. It prevents insecure direct object references, a component of broken access control.

Rails Lowlights

Rails’ dependence on gems for some security functionality can be seen as a disadvantage. The gems are well-known and vetted by the likes of OWASP, so you don’t need to worry too much.

So the same advice applies here that applied for Node. Make sure you do your homework.

A definite security issue with the existing Rails framework is its default handling of user sessions. By default, Rails uses cookie-based sessions. The sessions won’t expire on the server, leaving your application open for replay attacks.

To fix this, you’ll need to change the Rails configuration to use the database to store sessions. You can do this with a small configuration change.

What SaaS Companies use Ruby on Rails?

Here’s a list of the world-best SaaS companies using Ruby on Rails framework.

Basecamp

The well-known web-based project collaboration tool, debuted in 2004, the same year that Ruby on Rails was formed. In reality, David Heinemeier Hansson, a member of the project's development team, extracted the structure from Basecamp. Rails are still at the heart of Basecamp, proving to be a dependable solution with scalability and speed. After its launch, the third version of the program has had a regular uptime of 99.985 percent.

GitHub

In 2008, GitHub, the most common web-based version control and collaboration platform for developers, launched as a SaaS. GitHub aids developers in the development of software and the management of their source code. It's the most common choice among open-source developers today, with nearly 6 million active users and 20 million active repositories.

Zendesk

A leading cloud-based customer service network used by over 50,000 companies worldwide, including Groupon, Vodafone, Uber, and Disney. Customers like Zendesk because it's simple to buy, set up, and use. The platform is dependable and adaptable, allowing companies to scale their customer service operations.

Shopify

A leading e-commerce site that enables users to create their online shops- Shopify helps over 300,000 retailers in 100 countries, including Tesla Motors, Forbes, and Maxim Magazine, by combining top features with a clean interface and intuitive design. Shopify customers delivered $23.7 million in monthly recurring revenue in June 2017, up 64 percent from $14.4 million in June 2016.

How to outsource Ruby on Rails Development?

There are different ways to search for a Ruby on Rails Development company and outsource them for your project. Let’s look at some of the most common ways to outsource a Ruby on Rails development company.

Option #1: Analyze Portfolios of Development Companies

The portfolio of projects that an organization has helped develop, plan, and launch is one of the best indicators of its competence.

In a portfolio, you can find case studies of completed projects as well as customer testimonials. You may compare a customer's testimonial to his or her Clutch and GoodFirms reviews to see whether it's real and acceptable.

At Selleo, we have helped many businesses in developing SaaS products using RoR framework. Our portfolio for SaaS products using RoR framework is highly appreciated in the industry and shows our expertise in the field.

Option #2: Rating Websites like Clutch

Platforms like Clutch and GoodFirms collect customers' feedback and suggestions. Since the feedback is moderated and checked by non-involved experts, you can trust it.

Option #3: Events and Conferences

Many development companies exhibit at IT conferences and other emerging technology-related events. Some development organizations not only participate in but also plan such events to share their opinions. If your project includes blockchain or machine learning, look for vendors at conferences that have successfully applied these technologies.

Option #4: Company Blogs

Analyzing a production company's blog segment is another way to assess their competence. A successful development company keeps a high-quality, informative blog section with stories and case studies about their skills and previous experiences. You can read about their software development process in articles like "Steps to Create Healthcare Web & App." You can tell whether they have experience with RoR staff augmentation by looking at their blog section and website material.

Option #5: LinkedIn Profiles

Companies in the development industry use LinkedIn to expand their online presence and remind potential clients about their background, culture, values, and all of the great products they've launched. You can learn about an organization's long-term goals and priorities by looking at the LinkedIn profile.

Final Thoughts

It is a fact that SaaS product development is more technically demanding compared to building traditional software. When it comes to SaaS development, Ruby on Rails meets all the requirements easily. By choosing the RoR framework, you get powerful and cost-effective solutions. But wait? Hiring a professionally expert Ruby on Rails development company is quite a hectic job even when your knowledge of the technology is not sufficient enough.

Worry Not! you can hire Selleo and Join 230+ tech leaders who have built their software with top Ruby on Rails outsourcing company. With expertise gained on over 150 international software projects, our developers and teams enable CEOs, CTOs, VPs of Engineering and Product Owners in startups and SMEs to design and craft quality software solutions. In doing so, we either augment clients’ in-house teams or deliver complete turnkey projects.

To get more details, you are more than welcome to contact us anytime.