Viewing Ruby Blossom

Talks

Anton Davydov

Viewing Ruby Blossom

by Anton Davydov

The video titled "Viewing Ruby Blossom" features Anton Davydov discussing the Hanami framework at the EuRuKo 2016 event. Davydov introduces himself as a nervous first-time presenter and provides insights into his background as an indie developer and contributor to open-source projects such as Hanami and Sidekiq.

The main topic of the talk revolves around the Hanami framework, a relatively young Ruby framework focused on modularity, simplicity, and thread safety. The following key points are covered:

Modularity: Hanami allows developers to easily switch components of the framework without complications. For example, users can utilize Active Record or ROM models instead of Hanami's default model.
Simplicity: The framework promotes a straightforward approach to building production applications, offering conventions that provide freedom in application structure without imposing strict guidelines.
No Monkey-Patching: Unlike Ruby on Rails, Hanami avoids monkey-patching to minimize complications related to method definitions and maintain clear code.
Thread Safety: Essential for concurrent programming, this feature enables developers to build web servers that can handle multiple requests seamlessly.

Davydov emphasizes that Hanami is distinct from Rails despite both using the MVC architecture. He outlines the importance of separating business logic from data flow and introduces Hanami's application structure, which includes configuration files, routing, controllers, and views.

In his presentation, Davydov illustrates coding practices with live examples:
- He contrasts Hanami with Sinatra, showcasing its class-based approach to applications and how it simplifies defining actions.
- The distinction between models in Hanami versus Rails is also defined, particularly around the repository pattern's role in data handling.

He concludes with the pros and cons of using Hanami:
- Pros include its no-magic philosophy, which supports straightforward coding and adherence to best practices like test-driven development (TDD).
- Cons highlight some concerns, such as potential verbosity in code and a lack of certain integration features or libraries due to its newness.

Ultimately, Davydov encourages attendees to explore Hanami further, emphasizing its innovative solutions to existing problems while acknowledging the challenges that come with a younger framework. He closes by inviting questions and expressing gratitude to the audience for their attention.

The talk not only introduces Hanami but also fosters community engagement and development among Ruby enthusiasts.

00:00:04.640 Our next speaker comes from Moscow. He is an indie developer and a contributor to Hanami and Sidekiq. Please welcome on stage, Anton Davydov.

00:00:21.829 It's my first English talk in my life, and that's why I am really nervous about it. Anyway, hello to everyone.

00:00:31.070 It's my first EuRuKo and my first time in Sofia. I am happy to be here with you. I have met so many amazing people, and you are all so awesome. Thank you.

00:00:43.980 My name is Anton. I love stickers and open-source projects. I am also a Sidekiq and Hanami committer. You can find my commits in projects like Ruby on Rails and Crystal, among others.

00:01:01.620 In addition to my technical work, I am an organizer of the Moscow Ruby User Group, and I manage a Twitter account for Russian-speaking developers. This account is called @RuRuby, and it focuses on Ruby. It resembles an 'Ask Me Anything' format, similar to discussions on Reddit.

00:01:16.460 In Japanese, there is a beautiful concept called 'Hanami,' which means watching the blooming flora. The most popular flower is Sakura, but other flowers, such as tulips, are also appreciated. Today, however, we will focus on Ruby and not on flowers.

00:01:36.090 We will talk about Hanami, the Ruby framework. It was created by a developer from Italy named Luca. The first commit was made three years ago, showcasing that this is a very young framework.

00:01:55.710 The core team consists of two people, Luca and me. Let's start by discussing the general ideas behind this framework.

00:02:20.230 The first idea is modularity. It allows you to switch out any components of your view framework. For example, if you want to use Active Record or maybe ROM instead of Hanami's model, you can do so without any issues, and you can remove parts of the framework easily.

00:02:43.750 The next idea is simplicity. Simplicity helps provide a faster way to create production applications. This framework is just a tool and should not dictate how you code.

00:02:58.709 It employs a few conventions, allowing more freedom in structuring your applications. You do not need to worry about how to mix your business logic and the framework’s conventions cohesively.

00:03:24.940 Next, there is no monkey-patching, which is crucial for this framework. If you are familiar with where methods were defined in Ruby or Rails, monkey-patching can create complications. With Hanami, you won't face those issues.

00:03:39.519 Lastly, it is thread-safe, which is essential for concurrent programming or when developing web servers. Now, please note that Hanami is not the same as Rails; they are different frameworks that use the MVC pattern.

00:04:01.569 Any web application consists of two main parts of logic. The first part is business logic, which involves your model, database, and various calculations. The second part is data flow, which pertains to handling requests, invoking business logic, and responding to clients.

00:04:25.510 Let's delve into data flow in Hanami. The framework splits the logic across different paths. I want to refresh your memory about some great recommended practices, such as the monolith-first strategy. Hanami simplifies creating monolithic applications.

00:04:41.289 When you generate a new Hanami application, it provides an application folder containing several files divided into three groups. The first group is the configuration files; there is only one configuration file. The second group consists of routing and controllers, while the last comprises view paths, including view objects, templates, and assets.

00:05:07.150 As modern developers, we prioritize the SOLID principles in our work. We aim to separate our logic into distinct applications. For instance, we can place admin logic in a different location rather than within the main web application.

00:05:30.320 Hanami offers a straightforward solution for this: the solutions are continuous. After generating an application, Hanami creates two folders: the admin folder, which contains all parts of your application architecture, and another folder for the web section.

00:06:01.810 Let's talk about business logic. Hanami uses a library folder for all business logic, typically divided into two parts: the configuration and mappings, and the model. The framework implements the repository pattern, which is crucial for shaped architecture, and thus we have separate repository and entity folders.

00:06:38.560 You can place any library code within the library folder; for example, I use it for the mailer, but it’s versatile enough for various purposes.

00:07:00.960 Now I stated that Hanami is a model framework. Let’s look at all the parts of Hanami. If you check the GitHub repository, you'll find ten different gems. The first five are the core of Hanami, which generates files and provides a common line interface, such as the router, which needs only to map paths to controllers.

00:07:35.200 The second five consist of validation, helpers, views, and mailer. It’s essential to discuss the differences between Hanami and Rails because their principles and tactics vary.

00:08:08.570 One common saying is that talk is cheap, so in the upcoming slides, I will show only code samples. Our first code example exhibits a typical Hanami application.

00:08:34.520 This application features a simple class with one public method, which returns an array of three elements. Hanami utilizes a class-based approach and maps this class to different routes.

00:09:01.200 The next example is a Sinatra application, which you might find clear to understand, and similarly, Hanami allows block notation, enabling you to write applications akin to Sinatra.

00:09:20.050 It is important to examine how Hanami's actions correspond to Rails actions, as they have distinct frameworks and realizations of the MVC pattern.

00:09:57.550 Starting with the controller, a typical REST controller is a class with methods designated for request handling. It's evident that controllers in DHH's Rails implement a similar approach.

00:10:19.600 However, Hanami allows for a more simplified structure. You can define a typical action as a class, and this action follows a service object pattern, signifying its unique design.

00:11:11.780 Next, moving on to the model, Rails uses Active Record to encapsulate validation, database logic, and more within models. Hanami balances using repository patterns, where an entity class handles the state of an object.

00:11:40.070 Hanami emphasizes a distinction between the entity model and the repository pattern, making it clearer when working with data.

00:12:10.920 For shared functionalities, I have a straightforward slide that illustrates methods across Rails and Hanami. You'll notice that Rails often uses monkey-patching, while Hanami develops distinct classes solely for helper methods.

00:12:46.690 Lastly, let’s discuss views within Hanami. It employs template views, with partials, along with model helpers. In your models, you can invoke view logic, and instance variables are initialized in controllers.

00:13:12.660 In Hanami, you can create a simple data class that can be utilized to fetch data, eliminating the reliance on instance variables.

00:13:41.460 Unfortunately, I am not particularly fond of the action feature, so I will leave that segment for your independent review.

00:14:06.991 Now, moving on to the pros and cons of Hanami, one significant advantage is that it embodies a no-magic approach. It allows developers to write straightforward and effective code without unnecessary complexities.

00:14:35.840 The toolkit also fosters best practices for developers, focusing on modularity and test-driven development (TDD). The framework encourages implementing industry best practices.

00:15:09.510 In addition to this, it is crucial to highlight the shortcomings. One concern could be related to writing unnecessary tests, especially for aspects like view objects, which generate dynamic content.

00:15:35.390 Sometimes, the code can become verbose, particularly when trying to build straightforward applications involving multiple action_handlers.

00:16:06.050 The current stable version is 0.8, and while improvements have been made, past issues with helper routing and other features can still linger.

00:16:43.490 Additionally, despite its significant potential, being a relatively newer framework means that many useful gems are missing. It lacks additional integrations found in older frameworks.

00:17:43.470 Lastly, for modern developers wanting to work with cutting-edge technologies like WebSockets or React, Hanami might not currently support those features natively. However, you can certainly attempt to integrate such capabilities if you’re willing to adapt.

00:18:16.930 To wrap up, as much as we enjoy benchmarking, it’s important to recognize that not all benchmarks accurately reflect real-world scenarios. Nevertheless, I will share some benchmarks I performed.

00:18:50.240 For instance, in my first benchmark comparing Rack and Hanami, it was evident that Rack outperformed Hanami due to Hanami being essentially a wrapper around Rack.

00:19:05.690 A similar comparison was performed between Sinatra and Hanami. I created a straightforward JSON application that only returns a simple JSON response.

00:19:21.480 The last part of my talk highlights that Hanami is a relatively young framework. While some features are still in development, it provides innovative solutions to various problems.

00:19:56.420 If you want to explore more about Hanami, check out available resources and documentation. You can also contribute to the community.

00:20:09.500 This is the end of my talk. Thank you very much! If you have any questions, feel free to catch me after my talk.

EuRuKo 2016