Why Merb?
by Kim Dalsgaard

= What is Merb?

Web framework for the VC in MVC
Thread-safe
No CGI.rb

A small core, enhanced with plug-ins
Merb is a hacker's framework

Slogan: Stay small - stay hackable
(Kitchen sink not included)

= Historial facts

Started in October 2006 by Ezra Zygmuntowicz
Originally designed as a hack for uploading files for Ruby on Rails

Used to be Mongrel + Erb

Now it is Rack + Templating engine

= Filosophy

No code is faster than no code
Simplicity and clarity trumphs magic every time, so prefer simple code over magic code
Don't be clever!


= Things I like about Merb

Compiled routes
Merb::Router.compiled_satement outputs the compiled match method

== Controllers

Merb render the return value from each action
- Opens up for many possibilities
- Can return String, IO and Proc objects

The rende rmethod returns a string

The provides and display methods for rendering objects

class Regions < Application
	provides :yaml, :json
	
	def index
		@regions = Region.all
		display @regions
	end
	
end

render_then_call
- Returns the response, then goes on with other code

= Merb is built in top of Rack
- Rack provides a minimal interface between apps and servers
- Rack takes in the environment and returns status, headers and body


http://www.merbivore.org


Rails is good for full-blown apps
Merb is good for minor things, e.g. a json service