This document provides an introduction to the Ruby programming language and the Ruby on Rails web application framework. It discusses why Ruby may be a good choice for beginning programmers due to its simpler syntax and more intuitive feel compared to other languages. The document also explains that Rails provides pre-built structures for databases, web services, and web pages, acting like a pre-fabricated house and allowing developers to focus on other aspects of building the application. Examples are given of several digital humanities projects that have been built using Ruby on Rails.