Can JRuby + Rails prevent Java’s retirement from web applications?
Last year the creator of Rails had announced on IndicThreads.com that Java should retire from the spotlight of web applications in dignity. Since then a number of Ruby On Rails clones have invaded the software development world, with every programming language having at least one Rails like framework.
In the Java world, frameworks like Trails and the Groovy based Grails have adopted ideas from Rails. The question is that if you wish to adopt Rails concepts, would you prefer running the original Ruby On Rails on a JVM instead of using Rails adaptations for Java?
You can run Ruby On Rails on a JVM using the JRuby interpreter for Ruby. Joshua Fox in his article “JRuby on Rails: The power of Java, the simplicity of Ruby on Rails” says “Rails radically speeds and simplifies the development of Web applications, but it suffers from an image of immaturity, especially in high-end enterprise-strength capabilities.”
“JRuby promises added popularity for both Ruby and Rails, while giving the Java platform a new role in running non-Java languages.”
“JRuby can make Rails more acceptable to management. On the JVM, Rails becomes a Java framework. ”
Providing a Rails like solution for Java is today an easy way to grab attention. Whether JRuby + Rails + JVM is really a good solution will be clear only as people beyond the JRuby hackers start trying it out.
In his latest JRuby On Rails update, Charles Nutter, lead developer of JRuby and now a Sun employee says “I think the truth is that we could really announce support for Rails now. Almost all the visible, outstanding issues with actually *running* Rails apps have been resolved, and most apps and scripts work fine.”
So it looks like Java developers can’t rest easy until there’s a clear winner in the Rails for Java space. Until then they just need to keep themselves updated and aware of the various possibilities.
Do add your comments on the Rails for Java marketplace.
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What David HH (Rails Creator) really meant is that the entire internets should move out of the way and prepare room for his EGO. Rails is just another framework. Let me repeat that. It’s just another framework. Big flipping deal.
Rails Hype = People need shiny new toys or they get bored.
[URL=http://www.dekoh.com]Dekoh[/URL] the new RIA platform on the desktop shows that Java has a great role to play in the RIA space.
Java is a proven cross-platform runtime and when it comes to RIA, it should not exclude anyone. Hence Java should be a natural base for RIA. I had blogged about this sometime back.
[URL=http://pullur.wordpress.com/2007/01/03/ria-should-be-cross-platform/]Jaypullur blog: RIA should be cross-platform[/URL]
but why need Ruby for it?
[URL=http://www.dinf.pl/]DINF – oprogramowanie dla firm[/URL]
Like EJB3 adopted all the popular concepts from Spring Hibernate etc. isn’t there a new JSR that tries to bring all the good ideas from Rails into Java / Java EE?