Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Ruby

Ruby on Rails an application Server?

Isn't RoR just a web framework like Django or Symphony? If it's an application server, what are passenger (https://www.phusionpassenger.com/) and Unicorn (http://unicorn.bogomips.org/)?

5 Answers

Nick Pettit
STAFF
Nick Pettit
Treehouse Teacher

Hi Gonzalo Orsi,

You are correct, Ruby on Rails is just a web framework (built in the Ruby language) which is indeed similar in function to a framework like Django.

Rails can be run in a wide variety of environments. I'm primarily a designer, so I'm going to stop myself before I get a detail wrong, :) but Jason Seifer and Jim Hoskins have more expertise in this area and should be able to answer your questions.

Nick

Great Nick! Thanks a lot

Without an Application Server however, your Ruby in Rails Web app is useless.

Jason Seifer
STAFF
Jason Seifer
Treehouse Guest Teacher

Hey Gonzalo,

That is technically correct -- introducing the nuances between Rails, Passenger, Django, and the like can be pretty overwhelming to people who have never coded a web application before. For this reason, we slowly introduce the concepts and mention Rails as an app server.

That's perfect. Thanks for the response Jason.

Best!

@gonzaloorsi