A Curated List of Top Websites Built with Ruby on Rails

by Andre Oentoro

A Curated List of Top Websites Built with Ruby on Rails

 

companies to new levels of success. One such framework is Ruby on Rails, which has proven to be a powerful force driving the digital transformation of hundreds of enterprises.

Ruby on Rails is a cutting-edge framework that contains all the necessary components to build a web application quickly and efficiently. 

It provides an outstanding development ecosystem for organizing high-performance web applications.

Some well-known companies are using Ruby on Rails due to its pioneering features, such as flawless migration, database table formation, scaffolding of views, and other features to speed up web application development.

As we move through 2023, it is clear that the companies harnessing the power of Ruby on Rails are not just surviving; they are thriving in ways we have never seen before.

Do you want to know what companies use Ruby on Rails? If so, you have come to the right place. We will uncover the top six websites built with Ruby on Rails.

Let’s see how this awesome framework conveys well-known web applications and helps organizations scale up efficiently and quickly.

What Is Ruby On Rails & What Is It Used For?

Ruby on Rails is an open-source, powerful, and easy-to-use web application framework. Built on the popular Ruby programming language, it is designed to simplify and speed up the development of dynamic and interactive websites and web applications.

Salient features

  • Agile development 

  • Convention over Configuration (CoC)

  • Don’t Repeat Yourself (DRY)

  • MVC Architecture

  • Gems & Plugins

  • Database Management 

  • Scalability 

Uses

It is extensively used in a variety of web applications. These are:

  • E-commerce websites

  • Educational platforms

  • Online marketplaces

  • Social networking platforms 

  • Content management systems (CMS)

  • And a lot more 

Ruby on Rails enables developers to build powerful web applications easily, allowing them to concentrate on innovation and the user experience instead of dealing with technical issues

Its simplicity, flexibility, and community support make it popular among businesses and developers who want to get their web projects off the ground.

6 Popular Sites Built with Ruby on Rails 


 

1. Scribd

 

As one of the most popular digital libraries and ebook subscription platforms in the world, Scribd.com has used Ruby on Rails strategically to build and improve its online presence. 

It has a huge collection of books, audiobooks, magazines, and documents across different genres and topics. This huge digital library allows students to explore and access a wide variety of content.

They pick up the information from Scribd.com and paraphrase it in their own words to maintain uniqueness in their assignments and research papers. This paraphrasing helps them to excel in their studies. 

Not only is Ruby on Rails an integral part of Scribd’s technology stack, but it is also in line with the platform’s ethos of providing smooth user experiences and effective content management.

Scribd’s focus on agility complements Ruby on Rails’ agile development principles. This framework allows its development teams to quickly iterate, respond to users’ feedback, and continually improve the platform’s features and functionalities.

As a large digital library, it is common for this platform to introduce new features. With Ruby on Rails, developers can quickly create and test prototypes, allowing them to test their ideas.

Scribd’s technology stack is mainly built on Ruby on Rails. Ruby on Rails is the backbone of the platform. Besides Rails, the platform also leverages React to improve its functionality.

React works with Ruby on Rails to provide a seamless and interactive experience as you browse through Scribd’s rich content.

All these technologies work together to make exploring and interacting with Scribd's huge content library super easy. It is a great place to explore and engage with various materials.

2. Netflix 

When we watch a show on Netflix, many layers of technology make it run smoothly. One of those layers is Ruby on Rails.

It helps Netflix keep tabs on how everything's running and uses data to improve the service.

Imagine that Netflix is like a recipe, and they need to make it better. They use Ruby on Rails to analyze the recipe and determine which parts can be better. 

They also analyze what people enjoy watching and what they do not enjoy watching. This allows Netflix to decide which shows to create next. 

Just as you use different ingredients to improve a meal, so does Netflix use Ruby on Rails to experiment with different things to improve their service.

What is the role of Ruby on Rails for Netflix?

Ruby on Rails helps Netflix keep an eye on its service and find ways to improve it for all the people who love watching TV and movies online.

To provide a better user experience, Netflix uses a range of frameworks in addition to Ruby on Rails. React.js is used to build the Netflix web player, which lets users watch movies and TV on their computer.

State management library Redux is also used to maintain the state of the Netflix web player. This means that the player will remain consistent and responsive even when users interact with it.

 

3. Shopify

Have you ever purchased from a website that allows you to shop online? If so, it is likely that that website is using Shopify.

Shopify helps businesses set up their own online store and sell goods to customers.

Shopify uses Bootstrap CSS Framework. It is an open-source, responsive, and mobile-first CSS framework. Many websites and applications use Bootstrap.

Shopify Admin uses the same Bootstrap framework. Shopify admin's tech stack started with HTML templates and the Prototype JavaScript Framework.

 This was followed by Batman.js. Shopify then switched to basic HTML and then back to Prototype JavaScript. Shopify Admin recently switched to React, and now it is using TypeScript.

 Shopify admin uses the latest version of the Ruby on Rails framework. It's one of the longest-running and largest Rails frameworks.

The original codebase was created by lütke in the early-aughts, but it has since grown a lot. Ruby on Rails continues to be the core of Shopify, and hundreds of apps use it within the Shopify framework.

As the Shopify platform grew, it started to shard its data or split it into dozens or even hundreds of databases.

Memcached was used to cache the data, and Redis was used to store key-value stores and ques. Finally, Shopify switched to the current framework version, which does not rely on the server for sharing information.

Simply put, the Ruby on Rails framework is like a “friend” to Shopify. It enables Shopify to build online stores and make it easier for shop owners to operate their shops smoothly.

With the help of the Ruby on Rails framework, Shopify is able to create many online stores where users like you can buy cool things.

4. Airbnb

Airbnb is one of the most popular online platforms connecting travelers with hosts. Its architecture combines Ruby on Rails (Rails) with Node.js on the backend to deliver a smooth user experience across multiple platforms.

Ruby on Rails is known for its fast and clean development. It allows you to create complex web applications quickly and easily by providing pre-designed solutions for common problems.

Another benefit of using Ruby on Rails is its flexibility. Airbnb can keep up with the ever-evolving travel industry and is constantly evolving its platform.

Node.js is known for its ability to handle asynchronous tasks and interact with users in real time.

In Airbnb’s backend, Node.js manages user data, handles requests, and ensures that different services communicate.

5. GitHub

GitHub is one of the most popular code hosting platforms developers use for collaborating, sharing, and managing their projects. It hosts over 100 million projects regularly updated and modified on the platform.

GitHub relies heavily on Ruby on Rails for the testing mechanisms and handling of large volumes of requests.

The APIs created by the platform are based on REST design principles and are easy to integrate and work with.

Ruby on Rails is one of the popular frameworks used by developers. The fact that Ruby on Rails is the backbone of the platform's infrastructure shows that the framework is well-suited for managing large and complex applications.

Besides Ruby on Rails, GitHub also uses Adobe Enterprise Cloud and Apollo GraphQL.

6. Twitch TV

TwitchTv is a popular live-streaming video platform built as a monolithic application using Ruby on Rails. This means that all the application parts are stored in a single database.

This is great for development, but it cannot be easy to update. To manage the large number of users, they use Amazon EC2 for increased computing power.

Jenkins automates updates. PostgreSQL stores data. HackPad helps people collaborate. The rollbar catches errors. These are the tools that TwitchTv uses.

TwitchTv uses these tools for its complex architecture, which has evolved over time.

Ruby on Rails supports high-volume, high-content-density platforms; that’s why Twitch's backend infrastructure is built with it.

Twitch focuses primarily on video gaming content, such as playthroughs, live streams of eSports competitions, music broadcasts, and creative content.

If you think gaming is only for kids, think again. With 100 million monthly visitors, the game has become more than just a game.

Bottom Lines

These six fastest-growing companies that use Ruby on Rails have not only prospered, they have epitomized the innovation and progress of 2023. 

Through the lens of these forward-thinking enterprises, we have seen how Ruby on Rails has revolutionized a wide range of industries, including e-commerce, entertainment, education, and more.

At the end of the day, Ruby on Rails is not just a framework; it is a game-changer. 

Its speed and scalability have taken these companies to the next level, allowing them to overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities confidently.

Andre Oentoro

CEO at Breadnbeyond

Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order).