# Suggestions for a masters dissertation / thesis

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/suggestions-for-a-masters-dissertation-thesis/86517>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [February 22, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/suggestions-for-a-masters-dissertation-thesis/86517 "2007-02-22T22:12:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![grey-lantern](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@grey-lantern](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/grey-lantern)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/suggestions-for-a-masters-dissertation-thesis/86517/1 "2007-02-22T22:12:34Z")

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Hello,

I am thinking about ideas for my masters dissertation and am pretty sure  
that I want to do something with Ruby on Rails. I am a RoR newbie but  
pretty good with Java and J2EE.

Does anyone have any great ideas for a RoR-based dissertation?

I thought about doing one on ‘JEE5 vs Ruby on Rails’ where I develop two  
identical prototype Web 2.0 style applications and compare the  
frameworks using a pre-defined criteria such as ease of use, number of  
lines of code, maintainability, helpfulness of user communities etc.

As long as I get to develop an application with Ruby on Rails I’ll be  
happy but obviously I’ve got to do something appropriate for a masters  
level dissertation.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Cheers,

grey-lantern

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![grey-lantern](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@grey-lantern](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/grey-lantern)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/suggestions-for-a-masters-dissertation-thesis/86517/2 "2007-02-23T04:10:29Z")

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> From a quick review of Masters’ dissertation requirements, it appears  
> that the common requirements are that it must be based on a working  
> program and must have a practical application.

The JEE vs RoR sounds like a good candidate, provided it is well  
thought out and the problem being solved is sufficiently practical.

Points to compare:

- cost effectiveness of vertical scaling
- cost effectiveness of horizontal scaling
- product development cycle time
- development cost
- maintenance cost
- ease of testing, and impact of testing on overall cost

I hope this helps.