Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ruby on Rails VS The Unsplash API

Compare Ruby on Rails VS The Unsplash API and see what are their differences

Ruby on Rails logo Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is an open source full-stack web application framework for the Ruby programming...

The Unsplash API logo The Unsplash API

No-limits, do-what-you-want API for access to 200K+ HD pics.
  • Ruby on Rails Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23

We recommend LibHunt Ruby for discovery and comparisons of trending Ruby projects. Also, to find more open-source ruby alternatives, you can check out libhunt.com/r/rails

  • The Unsplash API Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20

Ruby on Rails features and specs

  • Rapid Development
    Ruby on Rails uses conventions over configurations which allows developers to build applications quickly. It comes with a wealth of built-in tools and libraries that streamline the development process.
  • Community Support
    Rails has a vibrant and active community. This means a lot of third-party libraries (gems) are available, and you can easily find help and resources.
  • Convention over Configuration
    Rails emphasizes convention over configuration, which reduces the number of decisions developers need to make. This can increase productivity and consistency across projects.
  • Built-in Testing
    Rails comes with a strong built-in testing framework, making it easier to test your application and ensure that it works as expected.
  • Scalability Options
    Although it has a reputation for not being the most scalable framework, Rails can be made scalable with good architecture and the right tools.
  • RESTful Design
    Rails promotes RESTful application design, which means that it aligns well with best practices in web development and makes it easier to build APIs.

Possible disadvantages of Ruby on Rails

  • Performance
    Ruby on Rails can be slower than some other frameworks, particularly for applications that require a lot of computation or have high traffic.
  • Learning Curve
    While Rails makes many things easier with its conventions, this can create a steep learning curve for newcomers who need to understand the 'Rails way' of doing things.
  • Scalability Concerns
    Due to its monolithic nature, scaling Rails can be challenging, requiring significant architectural changes and optimizations.
  • Lesser Flexibility
    The conventions that make Rails easy to use can also be limiting. When you need to do something outside the typical Rails flow, it may be harder to implement.
  • Runtime Speed
    Ruby, the language that Rails is built on, is generally slower in terms of execution speed compared to other languages like Java or C++.
  • Memory Consumption
    Rails applications can consume a lot of memory, which can be a concern for large-scale applications or those with limited resources.

The Unsplash API features and specs

  • High-Quality Images
    Unsplash offers a diverse collection of high-quality, curated photos that can enhance the visual appeal of applications and websites.
  • Free to Use
    The API allows developers to access a wide range of images for free, which is beneficial for startups and developers with limited budgets.
  • Documentation
    The Unsplash API comes with comprehensive and easy-to-understand documentation, making the integration process smoother for developers.
  • Search Functionality
    The API provides robust search and filtering options, allowing developers to find specific images based on keywords, color, and other parameters.
  • Regular Updates
    Unsplash regularly updates its image library, ensuring a fresh supply of content for developers to access and utilize.

Possible disadvantages of The Unsplash API

  • Rate Limiting
    The API imposes rate limits, which can restrict the number of requests made in a given time frame, potentially affecting applications with high demands.
  • Attribution Requirement
    Developers are required to provide proper attribution to photographers, which may not align seamlessly with the design or user experience of some applications.
  • Limited Image Types
    The platform primarily focuses on stock photography and may not provide specialized or niche images needed for certain project requirements.
  • Potential for Quality Variation
    While most images are high-quality, the open nature of the platform means there might be some variance in image quality and style.
  • Dependency on Third-Party
    Relying on an external API means any downtime or changes in the API can impact the application’s functionality and user experience.

Ruby on Rails videos

Ruby On Rails Biggest Waste Of Time In 2020 | Ruby on Rails Dead

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Ruby on Rails Tutorial | Build a Book Review App - Part 1

The Unsplash API videos

Using the Unsplash API - Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ruby on Rails and The Unsplash API)
Developer Tools
95 95%
5% 5
APIs
0 0%
100% 100
Web Frameworks
100 100%
0% 0
Web App
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Ruby on Rails and The Unsplash API

Ruby on Rails Reviews

  1. Stan
    · Founder at SaaSHub ·
    The most productive web framework

    Yes, there are other more trending frameworks; however, nothing reaches the productivity of Rails. It's simply unbeatable if you have a small team.

    For example both SaaSHub and LibHunt were built on Rails.

    🏁 Competitors: Django, Laravel

Top 9 best Frameworks for web development
The best frameworks for web development include React, Angular, Vue.js, Django, Spring, Laravel, Ruby on Rails, Flask and Express.js. Each of these frameworks has its own advantages and distinctive features, so it is important to choose the framework that best suits the needs of your project.
Source: www.kiwop.com
Top 5 Laravel Alternatives
In terms of documentation, guidelines, and libraries, Ruby on Rails is the superior framework for smaller applications. Since it entered the online scene before Laravel, its community is larger and more well-liked among programmers. When compared to other Laravel alternatives, Ruby’s code is much simpler to understand and write.
Top 10 Phoenix Framework Alternatives
While modern frameworks try to minimize the tradeoffs to a limited extent, none of them has come closer to the implementation of the Phoenix Framework, which offers Ruby on Rails levels of productivity while being one of the fastest frameworks available in the market.
10 Ruby on Rails Alternatives For Web Development in 2022
Once a prolific web development technology, in 2021, both Ruby and Ruby on Rails are considered dying technologies. The data speaks for itself. In October 2021, Ruby lost 3 ranks in the Tiobe Index compared to October 2020 and became the 16th most searched programming language. The same decline in Ruby on Rails popularity is demonstrated by Google Trends. The language...
Get Over Ruby on Rails — 3 Alternative Web Frameworks Worth Checking Out
Disclaimer: I started working on this article before the big controversy about Basecamp happened. I don’t want to make any point about this in the article. Regardless of what DHH and others are saying on different topics, Ruby on Rails is still a great piece of software and will continue to be. But there are some great alternatives as well that I would like to highlight.

The Unsplash API Reviews

We have no reviews of The Unsplash API yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ruby on Rails should be more popular than The Unsplash API. It has been mentiond 142 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Ruby on Rails mentions (142)

  • Unlocking Opportunities: How to Thrive as a Ruby Engineer in Today's Tech Landscape
    Ruby on Rails open source projects. Contribute and learn at the same time. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • Open Source: A Goldmine for Indie Hackers
    Speed of Development: Frameworks such as Django or Rails accelerate the development process. - Source: dev.to / 4 days ago
  • Indie Hacking with Open Source Tools: Innovating on a Budget
    This ecosystem is fueled by repositories hosting powerful languages, functions, and versatile tools—from backend frameworks like Django and Ruby on Rails to containerization with Docker and distributed version control via Git. Moreover, indie hackers can also utilize open source design tools (e.g. GIMP, Inkscape) and analytics platforms such as Matomo. - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • Charybdis ORM: Building High-Performance Distributed Rust Backends with ScyllaDB
    Ruby on Rails (RoR) is one of the most renowned web frameworks. When combined with SQL databases, RoR transforms into a powerhouse for developing back-end (or even full-stack) applications. It resolves numerous issues out of the box, sometimes without developers even realizing it. For example, with the right callbacks, complex business logic for a single API action is automatically wrapped within a transaction,... - Source: dev.to / 16 days ago
  • Ask HN: What's the ideal stack for a solo dev in 2025
    As it's just you I'd stick with Ruby on Rails 8[1] as you already know it and I think it could realistically easily achieve what you're proposing. There's lots of libraries to for calling out external AI services. e.g. Something like FastMCP[2] From the sound of it that's all you need. I'd use Hotwire[3] for the frontend and Hotwire Native if you want to rollout an app version quickly. I'd back it with... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
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The Unsplash API mentions (31)

  • A Weather Clock (with Alarms) for ESP32 / Raspberry Pi Pico Implemented with Arduino Framework
    ... // ##### // # you will need to either // # . Enable and complete the following "secret" block // # . Or create and complete the "secret" block in the file `_secret.h` // ##### #if false // ---------------------- // !!! "secret" block !!! // ---------------------- // // ***** // * you can setup WIFI_SSID / WIFI_PASSWORD; for ESP32, if WIFI_SSID not defined, will use WiFiManager to get WiFi SSID and... - Source: dev.to / about 19 hours ago
  • Show HN: A pure WebGL image editor with filters, crop and perspective correction
    Nice. I tried it with an image from Unsplash. Maybe you can use the Unsplash API[1] to give people an example to play with. [1]: https://unsplash.com/developers. - Source: Hacker News / 12 days ago
  • Connecting AI Agent with UI - State Management🧩
    Unsplash Account - it's free Now to generate images based on your prompts, create an account in unsplash, and create your new application and access api key token to fetch the images through url, which hepls to generate images based on the url encoding, which will be handled through the state management. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • 20 Free APIs to Kickstart Your Side Projects
    Use it for: Stunning blog visuals, photography apps, or creative portfolios. Https://unsplash.com/developers. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Show HN: AI-generated images that look like real life
    [1]: https://unsplash.com/developers. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ruby on Rails and The Unsplash API, you can also consider the following products

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

API List - A collective list of APIs. Build something.

Django - The Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

PublicAPIs - Explore the largest API directory in the galaxy

ASP.NET - ASP.NET is a free web framework for building great Web sites and Web applications using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Unsplash - Unsplash is a website with high-quality free HD images. It has a catalog of more than three hundred thousand striking images that are neatly organized with tags. Read more about Unsplash.