Ruby is not a serious programming language: reputation versus reality

Ruby is not a serious programming language, some developers still claim. That label echoes in forums and job postings. However, the truth is more complicated than a catchy insult. Ruby offers clear, English-like syntax and a community that values developer joy.

Because Rails popularized web development, Ruby shaped many major codebases. Companies like Airbnb, GitHub, and Shopify relied on Rails for fast iteration. Yet Ruby’s performance and popularity slipped over time, and surveys show declining use. As a result, some teams view Ruby as legacy, not strategic.

This article explores whether Ruby remains relevant in 2025. We will weigh trade-offs, compare alternatives, and survey real-world use cases. Moreover, we will examine why affection for Ruby endures despite performance concerns. Read on to decide if Ruby belongs in your next project.

By the end, you will have practical guidance for 2025 projects. Therefore, you can decide with evidence, not nostalgia.

Ruby is not a serious programming language: common claims

Many developers repeat the phrase Ruby is not a serious programming language as shorthand for several concerns. However, the claim compresses many different complaints into one catchy line. Because it sounds decisive, the phrase spreads quickly in forums and hiring posts.

Common arguments against Ruby include

• Performance problems. Benchmarks place Ruby below faster languages, so heavy throughput systems may struggle. However, performance depends on workload and tuning.
• Declining popularity. Stack Overflow shows a fall in Ruby’s ranking, which worries hiring managers. See the 2025 survey for details: Stack Overflow 2025 Developer Survey
• Scaling stories. Teams like Twitter migrated parts of their stack to the JVM and Scala to meet scale needs. See tools like Finagle: Finagle

Where Ruby earns respect and where it falls short

Ruby has real strengths, and you should weigh them carefully.

• Readable syntax and developer joy. Ruby reads like plain English, which speeds onboarding and iteration. For official language details, see Ruby Official Site
• Mature web ecosystem. Rails still accelerates product development and supports large codebases. Learn more at Ruby on Rails
• Strong community and gems. Libraries reduce boilerplate and speed delivery.

At the same time, Ruby faces limits

• Raw execution speed remains lower than many alternatives. Therefore, CPU-bound services often pick other languages.
• Dynamic typing can cause runtime surprises, so test coverage matters.
• Legacy entrenchment keeps many older systems in Ruby, which is both a strength and a risk.

In short, calling Ruby unserious simplifies a complex trade-off. If you prioritize fast iteration and developer happiness, Ruby still makes sense. Conversely, if your priority is maximum throughput, you should evaluate alternatives.

Evidence and industry opinions

Experts, benchmarks, and case studies paint a nuanced picture. Because Ruby powered many early web successes, its influence is real. However, critics point to clear trade-offs.

Key evidence and quotes

• “MINASWAN, for ‘Matz Is Nice And So We Are Nice.’” This community motto highlights Ruby’s culture and goodwill.
• “Ruby survives on affection, not utility. Let’s move on.” This blunt critique reflects some industry sentiment about longevity.
• Ruby was created in 1995 by Yukihiro Matsumoto. Rails arrived in 2004 from David Heinemeier Hansson. These facts explain Ruby’s historical rise.

Measured adoption and migration stories

• Several large codebases used Rails early, including Airbnb, GitHub, Shopify, and Stripe. Therefore, Ruby shaped real products.
• Twitter moved large parts of its stack away from Ruby to the JVM and Scala to address scale. As a result, they handled massive traffic spikes during the 2014 World Cup. See coverage of that event: World Cup Coverage.
• Stack Overflow surveys show falling Ruby popularity from top-ten ranks to lower positions. For survey data, see: Stack Overflow Survey.

Performance and benchmarks

• Benchmarks often place CRuby below many engines, especially in CPU-bound tasks. For comparative benchmarking of Ruby implementations, see tests by experts: Benchmarking CRuby.
• Yet Ruby’s JIT work is narrowing gaps. Recent YJIT metrics show meaningful gains for common workloads: YJIT Metrics.

Context for the programming language debate

In the programming language debate, Ruby language criticism often focuses on speed and typing. However, software development trends still value rapid iteration. Consequently, teams choose Ruby when developer productivity matters.

In sum, evidence shows Ruby remains practical for many projects. Conversely, high throughput systems may prefer faster runtimes. Therefore, evaluate needs, not slogans, when choosing a language.

Use this table to weigh trade offs. Therefore, choose a language that fits your constraints and team skills.

Conclusion

Ruby earned its place by prioritizing developer joy and fast iteration. However, critics call out its weak performance and falling market share. As a result, the claim Ruby is not a serious programming language still circulates.

Rails powered major products at Airbnb, GitHub, Shopify, and Stripe. Yet teams such as Twitter migrated services to Scala to meet scale. Surveys show Ruby slipped from the top ten to lower ranks.

Despite limits, Ruby remains practical for many startups and product teams. Therefore, decisions should weigh developer productivity against throughput needs.

EMP0 (Employee Number Zero, LLC) shows how serious modern engineering looks. They build AI and automation solutions that improve business processes and scale products. Visit the company website and the company blog to read case studies. Also see their n8n profile.

In short, judge Ruby by requirements, not slogans. Choose languages that match your constraints and team skills.

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