What Is Ruby WEB Server?

What Is Ruby WEB Server?

When it comes to building web applications using the Ruby programming language, understanding the concept of a Ruby WEB server is essential. A web server is a software application that handles HTTP requests sent by clients (web browsers) and responds with the requested HTML content. In this article, we will explore what a Ruby WEB server is and how it serves as the backbone for running Ruby web applications.

Introduction to Ruby WEB Server

A Ruby WEB server is a specialized server designed specifically for hosting and running web applications written in Ruby. It acts as an intermediary between the client and the application, processing incoming HTTP requests and generating appropriate responses.

Why Use a Ruby WEB Server?

There are several reasons to use a dedicated Ruby WEB server:

• Simplicity: A Ruby WEB server simplifies the process of serving web applications written in Ruby by handling many low-level details.
• Efficiency: Dedicated servers are optimized to handle HTTP requests efficiently, maximizing performance for your application.
• Flexibility: Using a separate server allows you to deploy your application independently without relying on other components of your development environment.

Popular Ruby WEB Servers

Ruby provides several options for running a web server. Let’s take a look at some popular ones:

• Webrick: Webrick is included with the standard library of Ruby. It is lightweight and easy to use, making it suitable for development purposes or small-scale deployments.
• Puma: Puma is a high-performance multi-threaded web server designed for Ruby applications.

  It excels in handling concurrent requests and is often used in production environments.

• Unicorn: Unicorn is a Unix-friendly web server known for its speed and stability. It is commonly used with Ruby on Rails applications.

Setting Up a Ruby WEB Server

Setting up a Ruby WEB server is straightforward. You need to install the desired server gem, configure it with your application’s settings, and start the server. Let’s see an example using Puma:

# Gemfile
source 'https://rubygems.org'
gem 'puma'

After adding the Puma gem to your project’s Gemfile, run:

$ bundle install

Next, create a configuration file for Puma (e.g., puma.rb):

# puma.rb
workers Integer(ENV['WEB_CONCURRENCY'] || 2)
threads_count = Integer(ENV['MAX_THREADS'] || 5)
threads threads_count, threads_count

preload_app!

rackup      DefaultRackup
port        ENV['PORT']     || 3000
environment ENV['RACK_ENV'] || 'development'

on_worker_boot do
  ActiveRecord::Base.establish_connection if defined?(ActiveRecord)
end

To start the Puma server, run:

$ bundle exec puma -C puma.rb

Conclusion

A Ruby WEB server plays a vital role in hosting and running web applications written in Ruby. By understanding how these servers work and their advantages, you can choose the most suitable option for your project.

In this article, we covered the basics of a Ruby WEB server, including its purpose, advantages, popular options, and how to set up one using Puma as an example. Now you have a solid foundation to explore further and build robust Ruby web applications with ease.