backend · easy
Ruby on Rails
Full-stack web framework extracted from Basecamp (2004): MVC, Active Record, and convention over configuration.
Where you see it
A request hits Rack, the router picks a controller action, the model talks to the database, and a view (ERB/Hotwire) or JSON serializer responds. One app can be HTML fullstack and a JSON API.
Why it matters
Rails is how many product companies still ship: GitHub, Shopify, Basecamp, and a long tail of YC backends. Jobs assume you can draw the request cycle and name the conventions.
Interview angle
Walk a POST create: routes → strong params → model validations → redirect or render. Mention CSRF and sessions without being asked — that signals production Rails.
Tags: rails