A full Rails application probably has less total code than the XML you'll need to configure the same application in other frameworks. With this book you will learn how to use ActiveRecord to connect business objects and database tables. There are extensive chapters on testing, deployment, and scale. You will see how easy it is to install Rails using your web server of choice (eg Apache or lighttpd) or using their own web server is included. You will write applications that work with your favorite database (MySQL, Oracle, Postgres, and more) in a very short time. You will create a complete online store application in the extended tutorial section, so you will see how a full Rails application is developed --- iteratively and rapidly. Rail tried to respect the Pragmatic Programmer's "DRY Principle" by avoiding the extra work and explanation of the configuration file code. Everything in Rails, from templates to control flow to business logic, written in Ruby, the language of choice for programmers who want to get the job done well (and leave work on time for a change). Rails is a framework of choice for a new generation of Web 2.0 developers.