There is nothing as crucial as effective project management when undertaking a web development project, and especially so if Ruby on Rails (RoR) is to be used in the process. The ruby on rails development companies that are used in the development of projects incorporate different methodologies tools, as well as the best practices to embrace the management of the development projects to come up with the best and successful projects. No matter what you planning to develop – an e-commerce platform, a social network, or a custom web application, it makes sense to take a closer look at how Ruby on Rails development companies deal with project management.
In this blog post, I’ll use an example and explain how average Ruby on Rails development companies approach projects and work with them throughout the planning, executing, and commuting processes and delivering results.
- Adopting Agile Methodology
Looking at the successful plans for the management of Ruby on Rails development projects, the most notable strategy is Agile. Agile organizational systems refer to more flexible and adaptative organizational structures based on the testing and development of small tranches iteratively. Most firms that offer RoR development service prefer Agile because it is fitting with the cycle of development that RoR fosters.
Why Agile Works Well with Ruby on Rails:
Flexibility: Ruby on Rails has a convention over configuration practice which is quite suitable for fast construction, and can be easily revised to meet new needs.
Iterative development: Ruby on Rails projects have a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, and due to Agile’s short sprint cycles, it is possible to release often and also assess progress often.
Key Agile Practices in Ruby on Rails Projects:
Scrum: Scrum is one of the most broadly used Agile frameworks that organizes the project into iterations or sprints that take from two to four weeks on average. In this approach, the ruby Rails developers collectively map a series of tasks and features that are expected to be accomplished end of the current sprint phase. All work is done in on daily scrum meetings where teams present their current status and challenges, as well as what they plan on doing the next day.
Kanban: Some of the companies that develop Ruby on Rails application also employ the use of Kanban boards for the projects. Kanban is a visual system for tracking work with examples of phases that a task works through, for example, “To Do,” “In Progress,” or “Done.”
How it Benefits the Project:
Frequent updates and iterations: Fre-quently released deliverables ensure that stakeholders can give feedback timely and can contribute to project correct-ness.
Improved flexibility: One of the interesting facets of Agile is that it facilitates the ability for the development team to continue to alter their direction in response to what they might be hearing back from the client or changes in the market place or technology.
- Maintaining Professional relations with Clients
It is therefore important to ensure that there is efficient communication in the whole project. The development companies that use Ruby on Rails put a premium on the communication that is clear, transparent, and ongoing. This also protects the client from not understanding certain concepts and also ensures the scope of the project does not ‘expand’ with the client’s addition of feature upon feature.
Tools and Methods for Communication:
Project management tools: Most development companies take advantage of applications such as Trello, Jira or Asana to undertake tasks and track milestones. These tools provide a place where clients can visually track progress from developers and communicate with them on work tasks and expectations.
Regular check-ins: In Ruby on Rails development projects, it is common practice to have meetings such as status meetings held once a week, or sprint reviews meetings held twice in a week. This provides the clients with a chance to go over the projects and give their comment regarding the same.
Slack/Instant messaging: Such application like slack enables developers, project managers, and clients to engage in several group and individual message exchange. These tools help one provide quick response to any problems or questions that might emerge during the developmental process.
How it Benefits the Project:
Transparency: Cleints can also know what is being done and when it is being done. These make the environment to be defined by trust and low levels of uncertainty.
Efficient issue resolution: Real time means that issues can be resolved quite promptly and therefore keeps the projects on course.
- Segmenting of the Project into Stages
Like most software development firms, majority of the firms that deal in Ruby on Rails adapt to the model based processes for phasing down the project. This makes it easier to plan, monitor and then make corrections depending on what is needed on the course. It is expected that every phase has clear tangible outputs consistent with the project characteristics that facilitate the progress towards project closing.
Typical Phases in Ruby on Rails Project Management:
Discovery & Planning:
In this particular part of the methodology, the developers and clients meet with the aim of agreeing on what the project intends to achieve, the specifications and limitations.
Key activities: Functional requirements, non-functional requirements, user stories, features, technical requirements and some level of graphical interface design.
Design:
During this phase, the inputs to be presented to the users, and how they will be presented is designed. In technology, Ruby on Rails development companies tend to work with designers to come up with wireframe or prototypes.
Key activities: Creating user interface and user experience design, coming up with visual mockups, and collaborating with client in feedback loops.
Development & Implementation:
The stage in which the Ruby on Rails developers code the application in line with the laid down specifications. This phase is often divided into several sprints, if Agile is being used (see the section on methodology below).
Key activities: Functional enhancements, interface incorporation in the backend, database leading, and API incorporation.
Testing & Quality Assurance (QA):
The software development firms using Ruby on Rails pay particular attention to testing to make sure that the code is both free of defects and meets the specification.
Key activities: Milestones: unit tests, integration testing, user acceptance testing, performance testing, successive security audits.
Deployment & Launch:
At the end of the testing process the released version is launched to the production environment. The development team escalates the application to make sure that it is scalable, secure as well as live ready.
Key activities: Installing to servers, configuring databases, tuning for speed and when preparing for the publicity release.
Post-launch Maintenance:
Once the Ruby on Rails application is live to the public, the development firms then offer continued support and updates of the application.
Key activities: All the bugs are fixed, servers updated, new features added and changes made where necessary depending on the users’ feedback.
How it Benefits the Project:
Organized workflow: This helps to maintain a good structure on the development process, which entails that all phases have known deliverables as well as milestones.
Improved quality: If testing, quality assurance and reviews are kept separate from the development process and incorporated into their own time slots, then the final product is most likely going to be as good as, or even better than, what is expected by the stakeholders.
- Planning and Monitoring of Risks and Incidents
As for the risks and issues related to the project, Ruby on Rails development companies also pay much attention to the problem. These include the possibility of assessing risks in time, controlling issues and rectifying them so that they don’t affect the project.
Tools and Techniques:
Risk logs: Some teams keep a risk register that contains information about risks (for example, technical debt, scope increase, or the failure of a third party’s integration) and about measures planned to address the risks.
Issue tracking software: Bugs and feature requests are h=also tracked in Jira, GitHub Issues, and Pivotal Tracker. These tools enable one to filter problems and monitor progress made in their solving in real-time.
How it Benefits the Project:
Proactive problem-solving: This is effective because it enables the development team to take measures to minimize the risks before they get to become very serious.
Clear accountability: Thus, issue tracking software makes developers or managers responsible for reporting and fixing the problems, bugs or a failure, etc.
- Traditional SDLC and Client Feedback
Another benefit that can be gained by a client when hiring ruby on rails development firms is flexibility of coming up with subsequent versions of the software. This continuous feedback loop helps to confirm to the client that the project is being implemented according to their requirements thus improving on results and work flow.
The Feedback Process:
Sprint reviews: End of each sprint, the development team provides a status update to the client. This enables the clients to recommend change or added value before the start of the next sprint.
Prototypes and demos: In some instances a working model or a demonstration is made to the client during the earlier stage of development. This helps them to have a feel of how the application is likely to appear at any given point in time.
How it Benefits the Project:
Increased client satisfaction: Hi, this way, you maintain the client in the process of designing so that the likelihood of producing a product that does not meet the client needs is minimized.
Better project alignment: Having feedbacks continually ensure that the product developed meets the business, user and market requirements.
Conclusion
Project management is one of the major requirements for every organization that specializes on Ruby on Rails development. Through the use of Agile, division of the project into phases, communication objectives and both fixed and variable communication plans, and flexibility for the client to approve phases before proceeding to the next, ruby on rails development companies ensure that project are delivered on time, under cost estimate and to value. No matter if you are creating a small application, or a huge platform, knowing how companies that offer ruby on rails services handle projects will help you to better understand the process and interact with your team members.
When selecting a Ruby on Rails application development firm, it’s important to work only with such companies that consider the importance of having the properly planned project as it helps to reach the business objectives set for it.