Ruby on Rails vs Relay

The framework that makes you feel like a productivity wizard, until you realize you're just following the magic meets graphql's overbearing but brilliant bodyguard. Here's our take.

Ruby on Rails

Nice Pick

The framework that makes you feel like a productivity wizard, until you realize you're just following the magic.

Pros

• Convention over configuration means less boilerplate code
• Built-in tools like ActiveRecord and ActionCable for rapid development
• Strong community support and extensive gem ecosystem

Cons

• Can feel bloated for small projects or microservices
• Performance can lag behind newer frameworks in high-throughput scenarios

Relay

GraphQL's overbearing but brilliant bodyguard. It'll fetch your data perfectly, but good luck arguing with it.

Pros

• Automatic caching and pagination out of the box
• Declarative data fetching reduces boilerplate code
• Optimized network requests for better performance

Cons

• Steep learning curve with complex setup and conventions
• Tight coupling to GraphQL can limit flexibility

The Verdict

Use Ruby on Rails if: You want convention over configuration means less boilerplate code and can live with can feel bloated for small projects or microservices.

Use Relay if: You prioritize automatic caching and pagination out of the box over what Ruby on Rails offers.

The Bottom Line

Ruby on Rails wins

The framework that makes you feel like a productivity wizard, until you realize you're just following the magic.