Rails Envy

If you're just getting into Rails or you're not entirely clear on the whole REST thing, I gave a on Thursday, December 13th at the Orlando Ruby Users Group you might want to .

A few weeks ago I didn't fully understand why REST was good, or why I should design my applications in a RESTful way. Hopefully this talk will help spread some understanding on the topic.

Here is what I cover:

• The big problem with Web Services
• Does REST solve this problem?
• What is REST?
• Why is it only now that big companies are using REST?
• How did Rails become RESTful?
• Live Rails Code Demo
• Can Java talk to a RESTful Rails server?
• What is ActiveResource?
• What are the benefits of being RESTful?
• How do we take RPC type functions and make them RESTful?
• The future of web services

As always, your comments and commentary is always welcome. I'm always trying to become a better speaker. A PDF of the slides can be downloaded here.

We're taking a week off of the podcast since Jason got mauled by just nine 5 year olds, poor bastard. Instead we've decided to go ahead and post the out-takes from the Rails vs Everything videos, enjoy!

View on YouTube

In other news.. this week I went to Boston to talk at XML 2007. Lots of interesting talks on xforms and xml document databases, hopefully we'll talk about some of this stuff on next week's podcast. I also had the pleasure of talking at the Boston Ruby Users Group.

Next thursday, December 13th Jason and I will be talking at the Orlando Ruby Users Group. Jason is talking on Unobtrusive Javascript, and I'll be talking on Demystifying REST.

Also worth mentioning, at the Ruby Group we'll be raffling off a free ticket to the Future of Web Apps conference taking place in Miami on February 29th. Jason and I will be headed down to this event, as well as BarCampMiami, taking place on the previous day, Thursday, February 28th. Can you say, nerds in paradise?. heh.. Whatever happened to Dudley "Booger" Dawson?

And without further ado, the final "Ruby on Rails vs" commercial:

This weekend Jason and I had the pleasure of attending the Lone Star Ruby Conference where we decided to premiere the video below:

Thanks again to Jason Hawkins from MakeFilmWork.com for the video production and Erika Greco for the Rails Envy logo.

Spoiler Alert! - After taking a good look at Django and weighing all the pros/cons, I didn't really think we should make fun of it. Django is a great framework for building web applications, one that employs many of the same techniques that Ruby on Rails does. If it wasn't for Rails I'd probably be programming Django right now. Amongst a sea of mediocre web frameworks it's definitely close to the top.

We have two more videos to release during Railsconf Europe (although we won't be in attendance), so stay tuned. We were going to save this one for last because, as you'll see, it's rather out there. We hope you like it.

And lastly, here is the 4th and final commercial in the series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3).

Gregg Pollack and Jason Seifer from RailsEnvy present:

Ruby on Rails vs PHP - Changing Database - ad #4 of 4

Click here to view on YouTube

Thanks to all of those we met at Railsconf, and thanks again to Jason over at Make. Film. Work. for the great video work.

We are planning on filming a few more "Mac vs PC" Parodies before we put it to rest, so be sure to Subscribe to our RSS feed if you haven't. Also, if you have any ideas on what you'd like to see in these new Ads, definitely send us a line (Suggestions at Railsenvy.com).

P.S. Yes, we know PHP has tools that will allow it to do Relational Database Mapping. It's just too bad not all PHP applications start with this built in (as Rails does).

Yesterday we released the first of four commercials filmed in the style of the Mac vs PC ads. The rest of the ads are with the PHP guy, who looks strangely like the Java guy. ;-)

Gregg Pollack and Jason Seifer from RailsEnvy present:

Ruby on Rails vs PHP - Migrations - ad #2 of 4

Click here to view on YouTube

Jason and I are both pretty stoked for Railsconf in 2 days, hopefully see many of you there!

What do you get when you cross the Mac vs PC commercials and Rails Envy? Ruby on Rails ads to get everyone hyped for Railsconf, that's what!

Gregg Pollack and Jason Seifer from RailsEnvy present:

Ruby on Rails vs Java -- ad #1 of 4

Click here to view on YouTube

We'll be releasing one every day leading up to RailsConf. Feel free to place this video in other places by using YouTube's flash snippet.

Masterfully edited and filmed by Jason Hawkins over at Make. Film. Work. Definitely get in touch with him if you need any video work done of any kind.

Last Thursday, March 15, I gave a "Why Ruby on Rails?" presentation to the Orlando Ruby Users Group. I've given Introduction to Rails talks before, so I tried to shake this one up and make it as ranty and opinionated as possible (It's more entertaining that way). Over 45 people showed up to the meeting, and I tried my best to preach the word.

Total Running Time: 28 Minutes

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Definitely let me know what you think, or how I might improve the talk.... Feedback is always welcome..