19 Apr 2014

Getting women into technology - on rails.

11:18 am on 19 April 2014

Ruby on Rails is an open source “web framework” used to build things on the web. It’s what the clever people behind The Wireless used.

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Rails Girls is a global, non-profit, community based on teaching women how to build web apps using Ruby on Rails. Founded in Finland, it aims to give tools and a community for women to understand technology and to build their ideas. The technology industry can be hard for women to both break into, and survive in. 

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This Way Up’s Simon Morton went along to Wellington’s Rails Girls event to see what it is all about.

One programmer, Amy Palamountain tells Simon coding is about an expression of oneself. “I think it requires a really enquiring mind. Someone who likes to crack things open and see how they work inside.”

One attendee, Jess Ducey, told organisers that she had put off learning to code until moving to Wellington and discovering an inclusive and welcoming community. 

An Auckland event will be held in July. If you’d like to go along, follow Rails Girls Auckland on Facebook and Twitter.