# Choosing framework **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [May 23, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/choosing-framework/138503 "2008-05-23T19:39:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/lamplighter)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/choosing-framework/138503/1 "2008-05-23T19:39:55Z")
I’m helping a friend who is going to be creating a new web app a hand navigating the technology maze. So far I’ve steered him in the direction of Ruby because it seems that a small team can build a good web app quickly in it. So far so good. I’ve read a most of the Pick Axe book and it’s great as far as it goes. But now I’m stuck how do I evaluate the various frameworks? Rails? Merb? I like the agnostic approach of Merb and am concerned that Rails has already chosen the UI library (the ORM tool, etc.) for me. But I know so little at this stage I may be missing the boat. Where do I go to learn more? The ideal would be I write small web app in each framework to get sense of what works. But this is unpaid work and I have a family so that option is right out. I’ve found the following post at InfoQ: [The Forgotten Ruby Web Frameworks](http://www.infoq.com/news/2007/11/forgotten-ruby-web-frameworks) - it at least mentions other frameworks. But even that news item makes no real attempt at comparison. Are there any good comparisons of the frameworks out there? ## Where would you start? Mark L. Agile Software Development Coach Blog: [http://www.notesfromatooluser.com/](http://www.notesfromatooluser.com/) One Year of Scrum: Lessons Learned [Notes from a Tool User](http://www.notesfromatooluser.com/2007/10/one-year-of-scr.html) Aperture vs. Lightroom - best comparisons [Notes from a Tool User](http://www.notesfromatooluser.com/2007/02/aperture_vs_lig.html) Customer Retention Department - Vonage Customer Service Sucks [Notes from a Tool User](http://www.notesfromatooluser.com/2007/06/customer_retent.html) ---
**Author:** ![lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/lamplighter)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/choosing-framework/138503/2 "2008-05-23T20:47:39Z")
On May 23, 12:39 pm, Mark L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > ## more? The ideal would be I write small web app in each framework to get Agile Software Development Coach > > ## Blog:[http://www.notesfromatooluser.com/](http://www.notesfromatooluser.com/) One Year of Scrum: Lessons Learnedhttp://www.notesfromatooluser.com/2007/10/one-year-of-scr.html Aperture vs. Lightroom - best comparisonshttp://www.notesfromatooluser.com/2007/02/aperture\_vs\_lig.html Customer Retention Department - Vonage Customer Service Suckshttp://www.notesfromatooluser.com/2007/06/customer\_retent.html > > Posted viahttp://www.ruby-forum.com/. Mark, You’ll find more tutorials and fewer issues on the Rails side of things, so if it’s a simple site, there will be less pain there. On the other hand, I think the support you receive on IRC for Merb and DataMapper is second-to-none, so issues that you do run into have a good chance of being addressed quickly. If it were me, I’d go down this path, but if you’re more concerned with getting the job done and out of the way as quickly as possible, and hackability/scalability/ performance isn’t that important, then I’d probably stick with Rails at this point. ---
**Author:** ![lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/lamplighter)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/choosing-framework/138503/3 "2008-05-24T04:10:26Z")
> On the other hand, I think the support you receive on IRC for Merb and > DataMapper is second-to-none, so issues that you do run into have a > good chance of being addressed quickly. If it were me, I’d go down > this path, but if you’re more concerned with getting the job done and > out of the way as quickly as possible, and hackability/scalability/ > performance isn’t that important, then I’d probably stick with Rails > at this point. #ramaze is one of the most active channels I’ve been on, and have been amazed by how fast I can get help. Very responsive and friendly community, and Ramaze is a rockin’ framework. I don’ think it would be that hard to try some simple apps in Merb, Ramaze, Camping, etc to get a feel for their differences. They all seem to play well with a variety of template systems and ORMS; Sequel is popular in the Ramaze world, DataMapper may be the more likely choice with Merb (and I’m still partial to Og) James ---
**Author:** ![lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/lamplighter)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 6:23am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/choosing-framework/138503/4 "2008-05-24T06:23:43Z")
On May 23, 2008, at 10:39 AM, Mark L. wrote: > option is right out. > I would just start with Rails. 1) If another framework is better, that > means a lot of people are wrong (which is possible). 2) There is the > most information and help available for Rails. 3) Knowing Rails means > knowing the one framework that most people have heard of, and to which > other frameworks are compared. The important thing is to just dive in, and not worry too much about picking the absolute best framework. Ruby/Rails are agile, and that means doing the simplest thing that could possibly work. ///ark ---
**Author:** ![lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lamplighter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/lamplighter)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2008, 7:37am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/choosing-framework/138503/5 "2008-05-24T07:37:22Z")
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Mark L. wrote: | | But now I’m stuck how do I evaluate the various frameworks? Rails? Merb? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Test them, by building the same (or very similar) application in all candidates. Also, keep in mind that Rails has the most options (and tutorials and general information) on deployment. ~From JRuby in an application server, to the classic mod\_proxy + Mongrel, to PAssenger/mod\_rails Most of those (except mod\_rails) will work for Merb and other frameworks, too, but getting the information might be trickier. | I like the agnostic approach of Merb and am concerned that Rails has | already chosen the UI library (the ORM tool, etc.) for me. But I know so | little at this stage I may be missing the boat. Where do I go to learn | more? The ideal would be I write small web app in each framework to get | sense of what works. But this is unpaid work and I have a family so that | option is right out. Well, limit yourself to an hour or two to evaluate one framework, and see how far you get with each. Mind you, you’ll still be using up time just by reading about the different frameworks. Also: This isn’t time you lost, but time invested: You know more, and can thusly approach similar questions easier and with a bit of expertise. Which, to me, counts more than just saying “I’ve read a couple of articles and three books on the topic”. | I’ve found the following post at InfoQ: | [The Forgotten Ruby Web Frameworks](http://www.infoq.com/news/2007/11/forgotten-ruby-web-frameworks) - it at | least mentions other frameworks. But even that news item makes no real | attempt at comparison. Are there any good comparisons of the frameworks | out there? | | Where would you start? Testing them, and getting some hands on experience with the frameworks. * * * Phillip G. Twitter: [twitter.com/cynicalryan](http://twitter.com/cynicalryan) Blog: [http://justarubyist.blogspot.com](http://justarubyist.blogspot.com) ~ “I suppose the secret to happiness is learning to appreciate the moment.” - -Calvin -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.8 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - [http://enigmail.mozdev.org](http://enigmail.mozdev.org) iEUEARECAAYFAkg3qWYACgkQbtAgaoJTgL/gQACbBJPeMiYmUZAuzN+Cs41KuPjj zUwAl2XtER/unz3qqN6mSD9wowrjpLw= =QeOD -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----