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Hire Ruby Developers

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Onboard our senior Ruby developers in a matter of days. This is just a small sample of the high-caliber talent working for us already.
Mateo B.
Mateo B.
Senior Ruby Developer
10 years
Mateo is a skilled Ruby developer, particularly experienced with Ruby on Rails. He has a strong background in building complex web applications and is proficient in database management with PostgreSQL.
San José, Costa Rica
Isabela C.
Isabela C.
Ruby on Rails Expert
12 years
Isabela is a Ruby on Rails expert with extensive experience in front-end technologies and cloud services. Her approach often includes test-driven development and she is adept at deploying applications on AWS.
Santiago, Chile
Rafael M.
Rafael M.
Lead Software Engineer
14 years
RubyDockerSQL Server
Rafael is a lead software engineer with a strong Ruby background. While proficient in Ruby on Rails, he also has significant experience with Sinatra for smaller-scale web services. His skillset includes Docker for containerization and SQL for database management.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Diego P.
Diego P.
Senior Ruby Architect
11 years
Diego is an experienced Ruby architect, skilled in designing and implementing microservices architectures. His expertise extends to advanced API development and using tools like Redis and Sidekiq for background processing.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Hire Ruby Developers

The Ultimate Guide for Hiring Ruby Developers

The software development industry is constantly evolving. Nearly every industry requires tech talent. But if you're in the market for experienced Ruby developers, how do you find the right candidates for the job? Since 2009, we've been working with the top 1% of tech talent, and now, our team is comprised of more than 4,000 tech professionals around the world. We know what to look for in a Ruby developer. We created this guide to help you identify the right talent, too.

In this guide, you'll find key considerations to keep in mind during the recruitment process. We've also provided important Ruby developer skills, sample interview questions, and FAQs about the process. Use this guidance to inform your recruitment efforts and pinpoint the best Ruby developers for your team.

Before You Start Hiring

Timeline and Budget

Your timeline and budget play an important role in choosing the right Ruby developer. The software development process can vary a lot in terms of time and resources needed, so you should take these factors into consideration in your recruitment efforts. Senior Ruby developers, for example, will typically require higher salaries than their junior counterparts, but the investment will pay off in terms of a shorter timeline and better-quality results.

Portfolio and References

A qualified Ruby developer should be able to show you strong examples of previous work. They should also be able to furnish references from previous employers and/or clients, who can attest to the quality of their work and approach.

Culture Fit

Even a highly skilled Ruby developer may not be the right fit for your team. It's important to assess cultural fit to ensure that the candidate not only has the right technical expertise but also the ability to work well with your team members. Consider factors like language and time zone compatibility, along with work style and approach.

Adaptability

Ruby development rarely follows a linear path. As carefully as you plan, priorities, requirements, and timelines may change. An experienced developer should be able to pivot and adapt to meet new demands and challenges.

Communication Skills

Communication is an important part of the software development process. Any Ruby developer must be able to communicate with other team members, verbally and in writing. As part of communication, they should be able to use your preferred project management tools and maintain clear documentation.

19 Skills Every Ruby Developer Should Have

Ruby is a popular, open-source programming language with simple and elegant syntax. It is widely used in web development. 

There are a number of key skills a strong Ruby programmer should have—both technical and "soft." These skills impact not only the developer's performance but also the entire team's workflow and collaboration.

Here, we have listed 19 important skills every Ruby developer should have.

Technical Skills to Look for in Your Ideal Ruby Developer

1. Ruby Language Proficiency

You should only hire Ruby developers with in-depth knowledge of Ruby, its syntax, and its nuances. They should have demonstrable experience delivering projects that primarily use the language and its frameworks.

2. Ruby on Rails Framework

Ruby on Rails is one of the most popular web development frameworks in the world. Knowledge of the widely used framework is especially important for Ruby developer roles focused on web development because the framework boosts efficiency and speed.

3. Front-End Technologies

Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is important for a full-stack web developer. Ruby developers should also understand front-end technologies so that they can collaborate with front-end developers.

4. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Ruby is an inherently object-oriented programming language. Understanding OOP principles allows developers to organize code and enhance code quality, making it modular and maintainable.

5. Testing and TDD

Test-driven development (TDD) refers to the process of writing tests before writing code. This practice helps ensure code reliability, minimizes instances of bugs, facilitates refactoring, and enhances code understandability, and improves overall code quality.

6. Database Management

The ability to manage databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL—including creating, querying, and updating data—is important for storing and manipulating data, ensuring the consistency of information, and more. It also allows Ruby developers to optimize queries and database structure, which is critical for web app scalability and performance.

7. Version Control with Git

Version control systems (VCS) like Git are an essential part of any software development process, no matter what the primary programming language involved. Ruby developers use VCS to track code modifications and compare different versions. This helps minimize disruption to the team. It also boosts collaboration, allowing multiple developers to work on the same project at the same time.

8. Agile Methodologies

Many companies use agile methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban. This leads to more effective collaboration with team members and stakeholders, as well as more refined and higher-quality software.

9. API Development

APIs are essential for enabling applications to communicate with each other and outside services. Ruby developers should understand RESTful conventions and know how to develop and integrate APIs.

10. Deployment and Scalability

Ruby developers must have strong skills in deploying web applications and managing issues related to performance and scalability. 

11. Understanding of MVC Architecture

The Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern is important for organizing code. It's fundamental to Ruby on Rails, which is built around the MVC framework and structures how web apps are built in the framework.

12. Security Practices

Security in Ruby requires a combination of good coding practices, knowledge of common vulnerabilities, and the use of libraries and tools. This helps protect web applications from common threats and vulnerabilities.

13. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

Leveraging their understanding of CI/CD principles, along with tools like Jenkins and Travis CI for automated testing and deployment processes, developers can streamline development and deployment.

14. JavaScript Frameworks

Experience with JavaScript frameworks like React and Angular is particularly important for a full-stack Ruby developer. Knowledge of these frameworks allows the developer to create dynamic front-end interfaces. It is also useful for collaborating with front-end developers.

15. Cloud Services

Knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Heroku, or Azure is increasingly helpful for Ruby developers. Beyond hosting their applications, cloud services allow developers to utilize a wide variety of tools to build robust, flexible, and scalable applications. During the development process, these platforms help optimize performance and curb costs.

Soft Skills to Look for in Your Ideal Ruby Developer

16. Problem-Solving

Ruby developers must have strong problem-solving skills in order to think creatively and find innovative solutions to complex problems.

17. Adaptability

The tech landscape is constantly changing, and developers must be flexible and willing to adjust to new challenges and different environments.

18. Empathy

It's essential for Ruby professionals to understand and empathize with others. This allows them to interact well with their team members and facilitate user-centric development and design.

19. Critical Thinking

Programming in Ruby demands the ability to analyze facts and information to form a judgment.

By now, you should have a basic understanding of the technical and soft skills to look for in an experienced Ruby developer. Next, let’s look at a few sample technical interview questions you can ask to separate the wheat from the chaff.
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14 Questions to Identify Top Ruby Developers

When you're interviewing a Ruby developer, you should ask questions that assess both their technical skills and soft skills. While you should also conduct coding tests to see the candidates' knowledge in real-life scenarios, the interview will help you gain insight into their thinking process and approach.

These are some examples of questions any Ruby developer should be able to answer confidently. 

1. What are some key principles of writing clean and maintainable Ruby code?

Sample Answer

Writing clean and maintainable Ruby code is essential for confirming the long-term quality and sustainability of a project. Some key principles of writing effective Ruby code include following the Ruby Style Guide, emphasizing code readability, and avoiding duplication via the Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle. 

It's also important to utilize Ruby's features and idioms, keep methods focused and brief, implement robust error handling, and use comments wisely. Additionally, Ruby developers should stay up to date with Ruby developments, optimize code for performance, write testable code, and practice Test-Driven Development (TDD). Following these principles helps developers write code that is scalable and easy to manage.

2. Explain the concept of 'Convention over Configuration' in Ruby on Rails.

Sample Answer

The Convention over Configuration principle is important in Ruby on Rails because it emphasizes the use of standard conventions for typical tasks. This minimizes the amount of configuration code that a developer needs to write. 

The RoR framework has a set of conventions, and following them means that it will handle most of the behind-the-scenes configuration automatically. The CoC principle also reduces the need to make logical assumptions, reducing the time spent writing configuration code. Ultimately, this leads to faster development and simplifies the process. 

3. What is Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture?

Sample Answer

MVC architecture is a design pattern that separates software development into three different interconnected components: model, view, and controller. The structure leads to a clean separation of concerns, making Rails apps maintainable, organized, extendable, and manageable. 

4. How do you manage database migrations in a Ruby on Rails project?

Sample Answer

Managing database migrations in a Rails project is important for handling the app's database schema. To ensure that migrations are applied consistently in different environments, I keep migrations reversible, test them before deploying, and always avoid editing existing migrations once they've been merged into the main branch and run in production. 

5. How do you approach testing in Ruby?

Sample Answer

I follow a number of steps and best practices when testing in Ruby to ensure that the application is robust, scalable, and clean. I use RSpec because of its expressive syntax and write and conduct thorough unit testing to confirm the functionality of individual components. I follow Test-Driven Development (TDD) to produce more reliable code.

6. What are some differences between Ruby and other programming languages you've worked with?

Sample Answer

There are many differences that set Ruby apart from other programming languages I've worked with in the past. Some key distinctions include Ruby's elegant and readable syntax, its dynamic typing—which means variable types don't need to be declared and can change over time—and its extensive metaprogramming capabilities. 

The "Everything is an Object" principle also distinguishes Ruby from languages like Java and C++, and the "Convention over Configuration" principle means that decisions are made for the developer by default. One of the biggest differences is Ruby's close relationship with the Rails framework, which is much stronger than many other languages' association with their frameworks.

7. How do you ensure security in your Ruby applications?

Sample Answer

I use a variety of best practices and strategies to ensure security in Ruby applications. For example, I always keep Ruby and Rails up to date because of the security patches the latest versions offer. I also validate and sanitize user inputs, implement CSRF protection and role-based access control, and monitor and update dependencies. 

Other important practices I follow include using secure passwords, headers, and CSP; managing user sessions with HTTPS to protect session cookies and data in transit; validating file types and scanning for malware; and encrypting sensitive data. Of course, it's important to stay informed about the latest security threats, too. I regularly tap into the Ruby and RoR communities to keep up to date.

8. How do you optimize the performance of a Ruby on Rails application?

Sample Answer

Optimizing performance in Rails requires a combination of techniques and approaches. It is an ongoing process that involves monitoring, applying appropriate strategies for different elements, and identifying bottlenecks. Examples include using the Rails asset pipeline to compress JavaScript and CSS assets, leveraging tools like memory_profiler to resolve memory bloat, and implementing lazy loading for images and other "heavy" resources.

9. How do you use modules in Ruby?

Sample Answer

Modules in Ruby offer a flexible way to share functionality and organize code. They serve two main purposes, acting as namespaces to prevent name clashes or as a way to achieve mix-in functionality.

10. How do you manage dependencies in a Ruby project?

Sample Answer

Managing dependencies in a Ruby project primarily involves using Bundler, along with the Gemfile and Gemfile.lock files. By using these tools, I can make sure my projects use the right versions of each gem. This helps maintain consistency across development, testing, and production.

Additional Interview Questions

9. How do you balance the need for rapid development with the need for reliable, maintainable code?

This question assesses a Ruby developer's ability to manage multiple priorities and trade-offs in a project. 

10. Describe your workflow when you start a new Ruby project.

This will help you gauge a candidate's project management and organizational skills. 

11. How do you keep your Ruby skills up-to-date?

It is important to stay up to date in an ever-evolving field. This question helps you understand how the candidate keeps current and commits to continuous learning.

12. What do you enjoy most about working with Ruby, and what do you find the most challenging?

You want to find a Ruby developer who is passionate about their work. By asking this question, you'll better understand the candidate's appreciation for the language and the challenges they face.

13. What is your experience with pair programming?

Collaboration is important in Ruby projects. This question helps you see how the candidate works with others. 

14. Describe a contribution you've made to a Ruby open-source project.

This helps you get a sense of the Ruby developer's commitment to and involvement in the Ruby community.

FAQ

What skills should I look for in a Ruby developer?

There are many technical and soft skills you should look for in a Ruby developer. Examples include expertise in Ruby and Ruby on Rails framework, experience with front-end technologies like JavaScript and HTML/CSS (especially for a full-stack developer), familiarity with databases, knowledge of object-oriented programming, and experience with testing frameworks. Additionally, they should have skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.

How do I assess a Ruby developer's technical skills?

There are several ways to assess a Ruby developer's technical skills. You should conduct a technical interview focusing on the candidate's knowledge of Ruby and related technologies. You should also administer a coding test to evaluate their skills in a real-life scenario. Ask for the candidate's portfolio, and request references who can attest to their technical proficiency.

What interview questions should you ask a Ruby developer?

In a technical interview, you should ask a Ruby developer a range of questions about the candidate's experience with the language and related technologies, principles for writing clean code with Ruby, maximizing security, and performance optimization. You should also ask specific questions about RESTful API development, MVC architecture, and object-oriented programming (OOP). Additionally, there should be an interview to assess soft skills.

How important is experience in the Ruby developer hiring process?

Experience is important in the Ruby developer hiring process, but it's not the only factor. Consider that a junior Ruby developer may have potential and strong skills. Still, there are some situations where a senior developer is essential, such as projects with tight deadlines.

What is the role of cultural fit in the Ruby developer hiring process?

Cultural fit is an important part of the hiring process for a Ruby developer. This is essential for fostering positive team dynamics. To assess cultural fit, consider qualities like collaboration, communication skills, and shared values.

Can Ruby developers work remotely?

Yes, Ruby developers can work remotely. This type of role is well-suited for remote work. You'll also be able to expand your reach and consider a global pool of talent. If you do consider remote candidates, pay particular attention to factors such as their ability to work independently and maintain communication with their team. Cultural fit is also important; ensure they speak English fluently, are in an overlapping time zone, and share your work style.

How do I attract top Ruby development talent?

In order to attract top Ruby developers, you should provide a detailed job description with examples of the specific types of projects the developer will work on. You should also offer attractive benefits, such as health insurance and career development opportunities.

What's the difference between Ruby and Ruby on Rails?

Ruby and Ruby on Rails (Rails or RoR) are related but different technologies in software development. Ruby is a dynamic, open-source programming language that is a popular choice for web development, along with other times of application development. Rails is a web application framework written in Ruby that is specially used to develop web apps. It's one of the most popular frameworks in the world.

Are Ruby on Rails developers the same as Ruby developers?

No, a Rails developer and a Ruby developer have related but distinct roles. Ruby developers specialize in using Ruby to develop different types of applications, not just web apps. Other examples include data processing, scripting, and automation. Rails developers, on the other hand, specialize in the Ruby on Rails framework, which is primarily used to build web applications. Essentially, all Rails developers are Ruby developers, but not all Ruby developers are Rails developers.

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