# Project Need Advice

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/project-need-advice/112281>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 17, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/project-need-advice/112281 "2007-08-17T01:17:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/project-need-advice/112281/1 "2007-08-17T01:17:32Z")

</div>

Hello,

I am trying to build a new platform for our massive internet database/  
application which is currently in coldfusion, sql and java. I am not a  
programmer, but I love ruby on rails and the 37 signals programming  
mentality.

Can I contact someone by phone to discuss the feasibility of using  
ruby on rails to rebuild my system?

Here is a description of the project:

We currently run a website that:  
· Monitors and tracks all the environmental legislation in Canada.  
o The legislation is in French and English  
o Legislation is uploaded as an xml file from another organization  
o It is updated on a regular basis  
o The legislation is grouped into jurisdictions (Federal, Provinces,  
and Municipal Level)  
o The legislation is grouped into industrial sectors  
· Offers guidance text for a variety of Topics (about 14 - items such  
as Wastewater, Halocarbons, Air Emissions…), Sub-Topics (about 2-6 per  
Topic), and Concerns (2-10 per sub-topic)  
· We currently have the ability to upload and store PDF documents that  
our clients can access.  
o Upload is done from the back-end  
· There is a newsletter where we issue a brief statement when changes  
are made to the environmental legislation  
· There is an Activities section where we can create a customized  
profile for a client, linking their industrial activities to  
explanatory text and pertinent legislation.  
· When a piece of legislation is altered, all the documents in the  
system, which have a link to that legislation, or make reference to  
it, are set back to unpublished. A notification is sent by email to  
someone to go check if the linked documents need to be updated.

More information and a flash demo can be found at www.nimonik.ca

Clients have:

· Access to specific industrial sectors (Legislation, Topics organized  
by Industry (i.e. General, Mining, Printing…)  
· Access to specific jurisdictions as per their contract agreement  
with us.  
· Constant updates on what new legislation affects them

For the New version:

· The new version must have all the capabilities of the old version  
· An easy way to sign-up for:  
o A corporate version where you select jurisdictions and have a price  
according to number of jurisdictions  
o A consultant version with 1-2 users and you choose the topics and  
jurisdictions you want  
o An educational version with time-limited access  
o A free demo version time limited  
· Full Screen XML template  
· Tracking of user activity  
· Branding for each client - allow them to select the colour scheme  
and have their logo or company name in their template by uploading it  
· Comment form on different topics, with the ability to designate who  
sees the comments (everyone, same company, only themselves)

References:

The platforms that I have looked at and like is Ruby on Rails, but I  
am open to other possibilities. I need an expert option on which  
platform is better and why.

I really like [www.37signals.com](http://www.37signals.com) style of program design and mentality.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 1:29am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/project-need-advice/112281/2 "2007-08-17T01:29:35Z")

</div>

removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> I am trying to build a new platform for our massive internet database/  
> application which is currently in coldfusion, sql and java. I am not a  
> programmer, but I love ruby on rails and the 37 signals programming  
> mentality.

Why not just extend the existing version? Did you lose access to the  
developers or something?

–  
Michael W.