SOMEWHAT FRANK

Ruby On Rails Upgraded to Rails 1.1

Ruby on Rails, the open source web application framework written in Ruby that strives for simplicity, launched Rails 1.1 recently (March 27, 2006). The launch updated Rails with 500 fixes, tweaks, and features from more than 100 contributors. These Rails 1.1 tweaks are meant to make Rails operate more smoothly.

Ruby on Rails seems to be gaining traction in development circles for its easy of use as a solid tool-set. Carlos Pero had this to say about Rails in general:

"I've been developing dynamic Web sites for over 12 years, and it's nice to see evolution in the tools used."

I have not yet developed anything using Rails specifically so it is difficult for me to weigh in on it. I'll have to wait until I get additional Rails tinkering under my belt.

Entrepreneurial Debate: Good time to start a Web 2.0 company?

David Heinemeier Hansson of 37signals recently posted It's a great time to start a business in response to It's a bad time to start a company posted by Caterina Fake. I would strongly recommend you read both posts. I have found I agree with David on this one. I think that thoughtful ideas can turn into reality online more quickly and tattily than ever before.

Yesterday (March 25, 2006) I posted about PlentyofFish.com which is a prime example of the opportunity currently in the online space. Some may argue it is not truly a web 2.0 start-up but it has been successful online with a social networking site which is a web 2.0 commonality.  Not to mention, if a story of a simple idea like a free online dating site turned success does not get your entrepreneurial blood boiling than I am not sure what will.

Is it a good time to start a web 2.0 company?

*Image thanks to thinkquest.org

What is Big in Japan?

Gigapets? Rhett Miller? Sushi? What IS Big in Japan? Big in Japan is a (surprisingly Texas-based US-based) company in the process of completing a "Web 2.o toolkit" which includes a number of valuable services to help bloggers promote their blogs. Big in Japan calls its products "pro-sumer" products since they are for promotion purposes and made to mix, match and mash. Big in Japan claims:

"Use these prosumer blogging tools and you can be Big in Japan."

The services in the toolkit are as follows:

• PodServe - podcasting tool offering a simple way to create, host and list your podcast.
• FrankenFeed - syndication tool which makes it so easy to combine multiple feeds.
• elfURL - URL creation tool allows you to shrink giant URL's to more manageable units.
  
• InstantFeed - syndication tool which enables feed delivery to your instant messenger.
• QwikPing - ping service tool for getting the message out once your blog has updated.
• FeedVault - feed reading list manager which allows you to manage your OPML reading list and save it in one safe place.
• MailFeed - syndication by email for people who are not down with RSS and atom feeds.
• SocialMail - email via syndication for people who want email delivered via RSS.
• StatsTool - metrics management tool which enables you to pull together all your different metrics packages into one place.

PodServe may be the most well-known service. However, StatsTools sounds very useful as it will allow you to pull together the metrics of all your different blog offerings. So in essence I should be able to see my FeedBurner, Google Adsense, Amazon and a load of other services all in one place. The Big in Japan tools are built on the Ruby on Rails version 1 framework and several of the services are not yet available but I am anxious to see them completed. For updates be sure to stay tuned to the Big in Japan blog.