Joe Masilotti, a Hotwire native developer and author, shares insights from his innovative app, Ruby Friends, designed to simplify networking at conferences using QR codes and NFC tags. He reflects on the challenging journey of writing his book on Hotwire Native, revealing how market shifts transformed his project. Joe also discusses the tough decision to shut down RailsDevs, shedding light on the need for adaptability in the tech landscape. His experiences blend technical expertise with thoughtful business insights, making for an engaging conversation.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Origin Of Ruby Friends
Joe created Ruby Friends after an uncomfortable QR-code experience at RailsConf that added phone numbers to contacts.
He built a lighter-touch profile system with QR and NFC for conference icebreakers.
question_answer ANECDOTE
NFC Badge Taps Worked In Practice
At a local meetup Joe and friends experimented with NFC scanning to open profiles by tapping badges.
The NFC approach removed camera and QR friction and felt almost magical.
insights INSIGHT
Sunsetting A Successful Product
Joe shut down RailsDevs despite strong revenue because market demand shifted away from full-time Rails hiring.
He prioritized projects that reliably support his family and match current market needs.
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When Joe Masilotti scanned a conference badge QR code at RailsConf, he was immediately uncomfortable with how it added someone's phone number directly to his contacts. That friction point sparked the creation of Ruby Friends – an innovative app transforming how developers connect at conferences and meetups.
In this illuminating conversation with Drew Bragg, Joe reveals how Ruby Friends provides a "lighter touch" approach to networking, letting users create shareable profiles with conversation starters and contact preferences. The technology works through both QR codes and NFC tags, creating an almost magical experience where simply tapping a badge can instantly connect two developers. With nearly 400 profiles created in just weeks, it's already gaining traction in the community.
Joe also takes us behind the curtain of his two-year journey writing the Hotwire Native book. What began as documenting Turbolinks Native transformed mid-project when Hotwire Native was released, requiring a near-complete rewrite. His candid discussion about working with publishers, managing complex Git histories, and balancing documentation with rapidly evolving technology provides valuable insights for anyone considering technical writing.
We also explore Joe's difficult decision to shut down RailsDevs after nearly three years and $250,000 in revenue. His thoughtful analysis of changing market conditions and knowing when to sunset a successful project reveals the business acumen required alongside technical skills.
From creating privacy-focused analytics solutions to implementing NFC technology for seamless connections, this episode demonstrates how Ruby developers continue creating tools that strengthen community bonds while solving real-world problems. Whether you're interested in mobile development, writing technical books, or building community-focused applications, Joe's experiences offer valuable lessons about innovation and adaptation in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
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