Returning to Rails in 2026

2 days ago

The author built a web app called Setlist Rocks to manage band setlists and song notes, rediscovering the joy of using Rails.
Despite Rails and Ruby's declining popularity, the author prefers Ruby for its expressiveness and how it aligns with their thought process.
Rails 8 introduces significant improvements, especially in frontend handling with Hotwire (Stimulus and Turbo), reducing JavaScript complexity.
Solid Cache, Solid Queue, and Solid Cable in Rails 8 eliminate the need for additional infrastructure like Redis, using databases instead.
SQLite in Rails 8 is now optimized for production with sensible defaults, making it viable for small-to-medium applications.
Kamal is highlighted as a powerful deployment tool for Rails, simplifying containerized deployments with zero-downtime switches.
The author reflects on the balance between using AI for coding assistance and maintaining the human aspect of creative work.
Despite Rails' reduced popularity, the author finds it a mature, reliable framework that continues to evolve and improve.

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