Computer programming languages are quite the same as our spoken languages. There are several categories and each of these further includes logic based, object oriented, imperative or functional elements. However learning the second language in the same category is quite easier than shifting to a whole new category itself. In most cases however, learning that first language becomes difficult enough.

If you are in the programming and IT development field, you will have idea about Ruby on Rails to a certain extent. RoR is a full-stacked programming framework that integrates both front end and back end designing. It has been the reason why Twitter, Basecamp and 43Things are getting so much attention and scaling up seamlessly in line with their business growth. Even brands like eBay and Amazon are adopting RoR elements in their e-commerce projects for reasons such as versatility, user friendliness and high demand.

In case you need to start on the path to a new programming language then its worth every minute of your time exploring Ruby on Rails. Here are the top 5 reasons why every programmer should learn Ruby on Rails.

1. Easy to learn / beginner friendly
The best thing about Ruby on Rails as a programming language is the cleanliness of code structure. Even a beginner would be able to start picking up the nuances early on. The interaction between front and back end is highly simplified wherein all the elements work in a perfect sync, making the experience enjoyable for the developer. While experienced programmers would be able to easily pick up RoR, it wouldn’t take a lot of time for beginners too. For a newbie, Ruby on Rails is the perfect language to start with.

2. Great for MVP
Ruby on Rails is a highly recommended framework for building prototyping web apps and minimum viable products (MVP). It is highly important for any tech startup to gain customer validation with proof. RoR will help in building quick prototypes and also roughly demonstrate the technical and project management capabilities of the startup within short period of time.

3. Cheap and dynamic
Learning RoR is relatively less expensive, with several free resources, boot camps and short term courses. All you need to invest is some time, depending on your experience level. What you gain is a reflective, dynamic and general purpose programming environment wherein you can lean on the “creative” with least frustration.

4. A dynamic community
Ruby on Rails has a great fan following worldwide. The language offers thousands on free online tutorials, tech help forums and FAQ sites like Stack Overflow. For someone looking to build a career in programming, RoR has helpful meet-up groups where members are bound to have some working solution to any particular RoR related query or doubt.

5. In demand
You not only get to learn a language that is easy but a language that is in high demand. As of now, RoR is the 13th most popular programming language and is experiencing incredible growth in all spheres. Not only among employers and web owners, but RoR is also becoming a commonplace in DevOps roles (Chef and Puppet). RoR supports complex web programming possibilities and is being used in all types of project sizes. It’s really an amazing experience for the developer.

Write in to us and let us know about your experience working on RoR.

With considerable demand for Ruby on Rails driven applications, we are constantly on lookout for professional talent in this domain. Over the last few months there are some specific characteristics we have noticed in the hiring-training-absorption phase that generated good talent in-house. The below listing is based on what we feel are strong factors that will help companies and hiring managers select the right talent for Ruby development.

1. Aligning to company values – if you are a start-up or midsize company you need to be clear about aligning organizational objectives with the candidate’s expectations. If the company culture promotes honest and transparent employee-employer relationship, there is very high chance of the employee performing productively and adding value to the company. Though good paychecks do hold forte in the hiring process, company values matter too.

2. Work environment – Once hired, the Ruby on Rails programmer is bound to come up with his/her own set of ideas (from past experience or recent qualification). The key is to utilize such non-routine ideas to make an existing project better. It might happen that the company has been using Test Unit for rails application testing. However if a new employee justifies the merits of using Rspec or Cucumber for application testing then as a business owner you can give it a shot.

3. Open Source contribution – If the candidate has significant resources put up by way of knowledge, insights or experiments on forums like GitHub, then the candidate is more often than not likely to see through set norms and go above and beyond to deliver excellence to the client. Since programming for the love of it is a key trait that defines our success in cut-throat competition these days, our suggestion would be – hire such early adopters or norm breakers before somebody else does!

4. Basic premise – Do get your candidates checked for sound foundation of basic knowledge such as OOP principles. Many companies have the tendency to grill potential recruits on advanced concepts such as APIs. However we truly believe that a person with sound knowledge of programming concept can readily grasp these.

5. Team spirit – Programming and development projects are often entrusted to multiple people. Try to gauge how good a team player is the candidate. Yours is a team-oriented operation. Lack of humility or empathy to team spirit can be a serious baggage later on. Make sure you are adequately covered on this soft skill aspect when interviewing potential hires. You will be sure to pick the right candidate this way. This factor becomes all the more necessary for a growing or midsize organization.

While measurable expectations will set the tone for initial rounds of interviewing, we believe that this is not the sole criteria when hiring Ruby on Rails developers. One has to look beyond qualification and experience and study their general aptitude to professional life.

If you see a surge in Ruby on Rails project demand, and want to capitalize with insight based talent sourcing in this domain, then we hope this post is of assistance to you.

Check out our new minimalistic brochure that we put together for the Garden City RubyConf 2014, Bangalore.