Choosing a Ruby on Rails development company

Make sure your project delivers the impact promised

Building your web application in Ruby on Rails helps ensure your project delivers the impact promised. Find out how, and get tips on choosing the Ruby on Rails development company that’s right for you.

You’ll learn what Ruby on Rails is, why and when you should use it, and when you shouldn’t. You’ll also get a list of Wellington Ruby on Rails development companies, and our thoughts — frankly biased — on why Boost is the pick of the bunch.

“Boost came to grips with our project’s requirements and quickly and effectively developed a solution that met our needs.”

- Jess Limbrick, Project and Partnerships Manager, Life Education Trust


Ruby On Rails Logo

What is Ruby on Rails?

Ruby on Rails is a framework for building web applications. It’s written in Ruby, a programming language designed to make development productive and fun.

Released in 2004, it’s since been used on millions of sites including the likes of Airbnb, GitHub, Shopify and Basecamp.

Why use Ruby on Rails?

Here at Boost we specifically chose Ruby on Rails for building transactional web applications because it gives our clients the best balance of rapid development and robust engineering. Why’s that, you say? I’m glad you asked.

Rapidly develop the right product

You get working software quickly. You can then test this with your customers, tweak as required, and repeat the process. Because it lets you deliver value early and often, Ruby on Rails is ideal for Agile development.

Ruby on Rails makes this rapid development possible because it simplifies and automates repetitive tasks, favours convention over configuration, and can call on many thousands of ready-to-use code modules known as gems.

Build a robust foundation for growth

Because it’s a mature, open-source platform with a culture of quality, Ruby on Rails is stable, secure and well-maintained.

On top of that, Ruby on Rails uses a model–view–controller framework which gives you a solid but flexible base on which to build your app. This base is set up to accommodate future development and increasing complexity.

Get an application that’s easy to maintain

With Ruby on Rails, it’s easy to maintain your application.

The large Rails community means you’re not locked into using a single Ruby on Rails development company. Plus, it’s easy for developers to pick up new projects. That’s because Ruby on Rails is largely self-documenting — developers can easily understand what someone else’s code does.

When not to use Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails isn’t the way to go if you:

  • want a static or CMS-only site with no bespoke functionality; it’s more club than you need for that hole.
  • offer a very high demand service and so need very high speeds; try faster alternatives such as Go Lang.
  • are locked into using a web host that can’t support Rails; most hosts do however.

Choosing a Wellington Ruby on Rails development company

Boost aren’t the only Ruby on Rails development agency in Wellington. Here’s a list of options. (If you want your company added, just email us.)

Wellington Ruby on Rails development companies

  • Abletech
  • Ackama
  • Boost — that’s us!
  • Hashbang
  • Haunt Digital
  • Lucid
  • PaperKite
  • Springload
  • Youdo

We’re not recommending these companies (apart from Boost of course!). The list gives you a starting point for finding the Ruby on Rails development company that’s right for you. Get in touch, have a chat and see who you feel will give the best results. Who is most in tune with the outcomes you want to achieve and who would you most enjoy working with?

Why use Boost for your Ruby on Rails development?

Whether you’re based in Wellington or elsewhere in New Zealand, we reckon Boost is hard to go past. Here’s why.

The Agile experts

Ruby on Rails is ideal for Agile development, but not all Agile development companies are created equal. Boost are the Wellington Agile development experts. We train other companies in Agile and we’ve been Agile ourselves for 12 years.

This means that you actually get to realise the speed benefits of developing in Ruby on Rails.

“They ensure you get a good-looking product that allows you to test your idea before spending unnecessary money on bells and whistles that may never get used.”

- Gareth Benic, FillingGaps, Melbourne

Oodles of experience

Practice makes perfect, and Boost’s developers have had oodles of practice.

We started using Ruby on Rails in 2006, and our team of more than a dozen developers have over 100 Rails applications under their belts.

Quality by design

You get high quality at high speed. We use test-driven development, peer programming and usability testing to ensure our designs and code are elegant, easy-to-use and easy-to-maintain.

“Boost was incredible at helping us to make the website look alive, make it look current.”

- Diane Pivac, Ngā Taonga Sights and Sounds

Active in the community

We make improvements to existing gems, we share our own gems, and we sponsor and attend conferences like Kiwi Ruby in Wellington. Because our developers are an active part of the Ruby on Rails community, they can make best use of the latest developments in delivering your project.

Positive impact, positive vibe

You get to achieve the outcomes you want, and have fun doing it. Our purpose as a company is to help others have a positive and lasting impact. Because we only work on projects we can get excited about, we bring enthusiasm and energy to the work we do.

“I was really impressed with Boost. They were completely down-to-earth, nothing was too much trouble. It felt like they were part of the exercise, rather than a supplier.”

- Graeme Harris, Streetwise Coffee

Fit for purpose

Ruby on Rails is one tool in our toolkit, and we only use it when it’s the most appropriate option.

Learn more about our Ruby on Rails development experience

We love helping organisations make a positive and lasting impact.

Children enjoying the results of our Life Education Ruby on Rails development project.


Growing a stronger New Zealand by keeping Kiwi kids healthy.

Two women view the DigitalNZ website, built by Wellington Ruby on Rails development company Boost.


Bringing Kiwi culture to life by making New Zealand’s digital treasures easy to find, share and use.

Talk to us about your next project

Ready to choose your Ruby on Rails development company? Talk to us today about how we can make sure your project delivers the impact promised.

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