Rails is one of the leading frameworks for developing the new generation of Web 2.0 applications using the increasingly popular Ruby scripting language. This book offers an unequaled introduction and in-depth explanation of the Rails architecture, as well as a practical guide to techniques for Rails developers and those of you considering a switch to Ruby on Rails. "Programming Rails will not only provide you with a deep understanding of how the Rails framework is built, but the book also presents several real-world applications to give you a comprehensive look at Ruby on Rails as a practical tool for efficient web development. From the back end sub-frameworks to how each request is handled by the system, this guide covers the core Rails features with a clear explanation of all necessary processes that you should take when developing within the framework. After providing insight into programming with Rails, you're shown how to approach real-world development tasks and essentials such as loading files into the database, handling caching, creating PDFs, web services, RSS feeds and AJAX. By the end of the book, you should have a solid grasp of how the Ruby on Rails framework operates and how to use it to develop your own web projects.