Ruby on Rails, a powerful web application framework, is designed with creative developers in mind. Here are 10 must-know features that can enhance your workflow and project efficiency:

1. Convention over Configuration: This principle alleviates the need for excessive configuration files, allowing developers to focus on coding instead of setup. Read more about it here.
2. RESTful Architecture: Rails embraces REST (Representational State Transfer), making it easier to structure your application by providing a standard way of defining routes. This organizes your code and improves maintainability; details can be found here.
3. Active Record: This ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) tool facilitates database interactions without the hassle of SQL, promoting clean code and seamless migrations. Discover more about Active Record here.
4. Scaffolding: Rails enables rapid development through scaffolding, allowing developers to quickly generate code templates for CRUD operations. This accelerates the initial phases of product development; learn more here.

Continuing with more features, it’s essential to highlight:

6. Asset Pipeline: Rails simplifies asset management—CSS, JavaScript, and images—enhancing performance through minification and compression. More about the Asset Pipeline can be found here.
7. Built-in Testing Framework: The framework incorporates a robust testing suite, encouraging TDD (Test-Driven Development) right out of the box. Familiarize yourself with testing in Rails here.
8. Active Job: With this feature, developers can define background jobs easily, allowing for improved application performance and user experience. Learn more about Active Job here.
9. Rich Gem Ecosystem: The plethora of gems available for Ruby on Rails means developers can easily extend functionality and enhance their applications. Check the RubyGems repository here for valuable plugins.

Building a stunning web application with Ruby on Rails can significantly enhance your project’s functionality and user experience. Ruby on Rails is renowned for its convention over configuration philosophy, making it an ideal framework for rapid development. To get started, set up your development environment by installing Ruby, Rails, and a database like PostgreSQL. Once your environment is ready, you can create a new Rails application using the command rails new myapp. This command generates the necessary file structure and codebase, allowing you to hit the ground running. For more detailed setup instructions, check the official Ruby on Rails Getting Started Guide.

Once your application skeleton is in place, it’s time to focus on creating stunning features. Utilize Rails' powerful MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture to organize your application’s logic. Begin by defining your models, which represent your data and business logic, followed by creating controllers to handle user requests and manage responses. Lastly, design the views using HTML and embedded Ruby (ERB) to create dynamic content. To enhance your application’s usability, consider integrating popular gems like Devise for authentication and Kaminari for pagination. These tools can save you time and improve your app's performance as you build out its features.

Ruby on Rails has garnered significant popularity in the web development community, particularly due to its ability to enhance productivity and streamline the development process. Built on the Ruby programming language, this framework emphasizes convention over configuration, enabling developers to focus on what truly matters—creating exceptional web applications. One of the standout features of Ruby on Rails is its extensive library of gems, which are reusable code packages that can significantly speed up development. If you are considering using Ruby on Rails for your next creative project, you may want to evaluate its capacity for scalability and flexibility, particularly if your project anticipates significant growth or shifts in scope.

When deciding if Ruby on Rails is the right choice, it is important to consider the type of project you are working on. For instance, if you are developing a content management system or an e-commerce platform, Ruby on Rails offers a robust set of tools that can make the development process smoother and more efficient. Furthermore, Rails allows for rapid prototyping, which is a key factor for startups and entrepreneurs looking to bring their ideas to market quickly. You can explore more about the framework's strengths in this guide. Ultimately, your decision should be informed by the specific requirements of your project, the type of functionality you need, and the resources available to you.