Rails was launched in 2004 and it was a game changer for web development. It was very disruptive at the time, as it didn’t require a lot of boilerplate code and it was very easy to get started. It was a breath of fresh air for developers overwhelmed by the complex tools and specifications found in Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) amongst others.

Not only that, it introduced many new practices that are now status quo in web development, such as Test Driven Development (TDD), Continuous Integration (CI), and principles like DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) and YAGNI (You Aren’t Gonna Need It).

Ruby and Rails Impact

Just as Rails, around 2004-2011, many other tools and products emerged that are now essential for web development, such as Git, AWS, GitHub, and Heroku. The two last ones were created using Rails.

Codeminer42 itself was born in 2011, as a company that wanted to offer high-quality software development services. Founded by one of the early adopters of Rails in Brazil, all the innovations and practices that Rails brought were already part of the company’s DNA.

Participating actively in the community, Codeminer42 organized the RubyConf Brasil conference for a couple of years: a place where Ruby and Rails enthusiasts could gather, share knowledge, and network with each other, but also a place where other community members could share their own projects and ideas.

It was where two of today’s Codeminer42 partners had the opportunity to present their first talks. This had a huge impact on their careers and the company itself.

Ruby and Rails Conferences

The community is very strong. This can be seen in the number of conferences that are held every year around the world and all the efforts that are made to aggregate all the knowledge produced in such events.

The RailsConf is a killer event for the Ruby and Rails community, as it always brings great speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities. It was a place where developers could learn about the latest trends and best practices in Ruby and Rails development, as well as share their own experiences and projects.

The first edition RailsConf attracted between 400–600 attendees and marked the beginning of an annual tradition. In the following years, attendance grew rapidly, with the 2008 conference drawing approximately 1,800 participants.

Almost twenty years later, the RailsConf is reaching its final chapter in 2025. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as its spiritual successor, the Rails World, is still going strong and bringing together all the Ruby and Rails folks.

Codeminer42 at The Last RailsConf

We’re proud to be part of the history of such a great community. In some sense, RubyConf Brasil was much more aligned with the RailsConf.

As Fabio Akita, Codeminer42 co-founder, and RubyConf Brasil 2015 organizer, said:

…the reality of our market in Brazil, the focus is on how the developer can use Ruby and the surrounding tools to get the most out of their investment. We are more similar to the idea of “Railsconf”.

RailsConf 2025 will be a celebration of the impact that Rails has had on web development, a chance to reflect on the journey that the community has taken since its inception, and look forward to the future of Rails.

We’re so excited to be present in such an impactful event in Ruby on Rails history with the talk The Future Of: PWAs on Rails.

See you in Philly!

Bonus: Learn More About Ruby on Rails History

There’s much more about the history of the Rails community in Brazil and in the world. To learn more, check out the following video made by one of our founders, Fabio Akita (in PT-BR):

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