Ruby on Rails at the Low End

Bob DuCharme has a thoughtful overview of the benefits of Ruby on Rails at what might be termed the consumer end of programming.

Most discussions of Rails focus on its inroads into the high-end web development that many are doing with large, complex Java libraries. I can picture it also playing an increasing role in low-end database development. For example, picture someone whose computer knowledge is limited to basic Microsoft Office usage. I’ll call her Brenda. Brenda needs to develop some sort of multi-table (and perhaps multi-user) database for her office. The obvious answer in the last few years would have been Microsoft Access; other choices over the years include dBase, FoxPro, Paradox, FileMaker, and other products that commanded portions of the PC database manager market before Microsoft steamrolled in. Now, Brenda has a free alternative that works equally well on Windows, the Mac, and Linux: Ruby on Rails.

“Rails: Access killer” isn’t the world’s sexiest marketing message. But it’s one that might make a real difference.