Coffee with Developers: David Heinemeier Hansson

What if you could ditch the entire JavaScript build toolchain? DHH explains how Rails is creating a simpler, more productive future for web development.

#1about 6 minutes

From typing games in BASIC to falling in love with Ruby

The journey from early programming attempts with BASIC and PHP to discovering Ruby's expressive power while building the first version of Basecamp.

#2about 5 minutes

Creating a framework for small teams to achieve big things

Ruby on Rails was designed to boost developer productivity by embracing a full-stack approach with strong conventions over configuration.

#3about 4 minutes

How the zero-interest funding era shifted developer priorities

The mainstream adoption of Rails was limited by a funding environment where hiring more developers was prioritized over tool productivity.

#4about 5 minutes

How Rails powered the growth of Shopify, GitHub, and more

Shopify and GitHub demonstrate the long-term success and scalability of applications built with Ruby on Rails, which continues to be developed for personal productivity.

#5about 10 minutes

Building modern frontends without the JavaScript toolchain complexity

Rails 7.1 introduces a "no-build" approach using Hotwire and modern browser features like import maps to eliminate the need for Node, NPM, and bundlers.

#6about 7 minutes

Why readable code and developer happiness trumped TypeScript

The decision to remove TypeScript from the Turbo framework was driven by a commitment to readable "View Source" code and prioritizing developer enjoyment and simplicity.

#7about 5 minutes

The web's strength lies in its diversity of tools

The web thrives because it's a level playing field that supports a wide variety of languages and frameworks, allowing developers to choose what resonates with them.

#8about 7 minutes

Navigating Apple's resistance to Progressive Web Apps in the EU

While Rails 8 will focus on Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), Apple's malicious compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act creates a temporary setback for the open web.

#9about 5 minutes

How well-intentioned EU regulations have harmed the web

EU regulations like GDPR have resulted in negative outcomes such as ubiquitous cookie banners, creating a net drain on productivity without providing meaningful value.

#10about 4 minutes