Rails and Merb to merge: an opinion
I’m glad Rails and Merb have decided to merge. Rails is the framework we use every day to build systems for our clients, and having the benefits of Merb without having to support two frameworks is a big win for us.
Merb was created originally because of some well known shortcomings of the Rails framework, most notably surrounding uploading files to a website. Since its creation it grew into a full framework in its own right and became a sort of ‘Rails done right’ in the eyes of many. Now, the best bits of merb will become Rails 3, and some of the best ruby coders in the business will be working on the framework we use every day. That’s a great thing for Rails users everywhere.
Despite the claims of some, it’s not about one set of people ‘winning’ and one ‘losing’. Ultimately the combined codebase is the real winner, and therefore the people that use it, such as companies like ourselves. We’ll certainly do all we can to support the move here.
This sort of behaviour is almost unprecedented for open source software: often open source communities are more characterised by petty infighting than bipartisanship. It’s shown that those on both sides of the fence are pretty big people, and willing to put aside personal differences. The result (I hope) will be a combined framework that’s leaner, meaner and with a clearer future in front of it. We’ll be watching with interest in the coming months.
” That’s a great thing for Rails users everywhere.”
And a poke in the eye for Merb developers. baaaaw.
“Despite the claims of some, it’s not about one set of people ‘winning’ and one ‘losing’.”
Well if you liked Merb and wanted to keep using it as is — not as an amalgam of merb and rails — then yes, you lost. Not in the sense of sports teams winning or losing, but simply because you’ll no longer have the framework you want.
This is a crucial point that seems to have been largely overlooked; many objections — and mine in particular — over the merge have _nothing_ to do with Rails and everything to do with the removal of Merb as an independent project, with it’s own philosophy and approach.
“Ultimately the combined codebase is the real winner,”
I don’t entirely agree, because ultimately the code doesn’t matter quite so much as the community surrounding a project. It goes a long way to shaping the nature of the actual code base. This was a crucial part of the Merb project; that it was open to contributions and contributors were focussed on optimal, general solutions, not _opinionated_ ones. No one ever said “I’m making this for myself, so suck it up or STFU”. I’m paraphrasing DHH’s infamous comments here, but the general sentiment is correct.
I hope that with the injection of merb contributors that attitude will be stamped out, since it is particularly noxious.
Interesting times ahead.
“many objections — and mine in particular — over the merge have _nothing_ to do with Rails and everything to do with the removal of Merb as an independent project, with it’s own philosophy and approach.”
A fair point. However, I’m not sure that Merb and Rails would have merged if they hadn’t found the philosophy and approach merging to such an extent that there was little difference.
“…ultimately the code doesn’t matter quite so much as the community surrounding a project. It goes a long way to shaping the nature of the actual code base.”
True, but if you’ve got people with the merb philosophy on the core team, then the community (and therefore code) should reflect that.
One other point: DHH’s comments were made several years ago – is it possible that the merb guys would have merged if his ‘general sentiment’ toward changes was still the same? People and opinions change; the net has a tendency to immortalise (fossilise?) both and blow stuff out of proportion.
I’m with you in that it’s going to be interesting :) I’m optimistic about the outcome, but whatever it is it’ll be fascinating to watch.
We make real use of the Rail Frameworks in our company. The new enhancements can only make life easier for everyone.
The plan is to merge into Rails 3 the characteristics that made Merb different, … The Merb / Rails merger announcement, an inside opinion : Splendificent …
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Different point of view from that post. Interesting to say the least.
Promising unification. I'll definitely keep my eyes on Rail and Merb's combination and see how it pans out.
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Merging of rail and merb isa brilliant idea just imagine two influential company will join forces isn't it sweet.
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