How to create a JSON API with Rails

1. Knowledge

   

   Optimizing for programmer happiness.

1. Rails is a MVC framework, lending wonderfully for whipping up clean, RESTful interfaces.
2. Not sure where to get started? Try this.
3. Gems like jBuilder can greatly simplify the JSON declaration process. 
2. Strategy
1. Add a `northof` method to your `app/controllers/houses_controller.rb` file.  This will handle the input parameters and pass the variables to your JSON view.
2. Create a `app/views/northof.json.jbuilder` file.  This defines the actual JSON response format. 
3. Add a GET route to the resource member block within your `config/routes.rb` file.
3. Execution

How to add dynamic text to Rails applications

How can you change your application from this...

To this?

It's simple! Just use embedded ruby!

EDIT: Thanks to Action Dan for some feedback that picks into the niche differences of web application frameworks.

Bear in mind this is a Rails specific post, but I will say that for purposes of building larger applications, the ability to organize and refactor code begins to become a problem. 

Rails also offers uniform ways to add and remove helper functions through package management, so I'm actually using the current_user function generated by adding the Clearance gem to my project. 

The simple markup syntax is one small reason people like using Ruby on Rails to develop web applications.

Using a helper function (that I didn't even have to write) are two "behind the scenes" benefits of using Rails to develop.

If your confused about the current_user helper I'm using, read more here.

Program on!