NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20110015661: Ruby on Rails Applications

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by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruby onRailsApplications
Duringmy summerinternshipatKennedy Space Center, Ibuiltwebapplications using Ruby onRails. Ruby on
Rails is an opensourcewebapplicationframework forthe Rubyprogramminglanguage. Thefirstapplication I
built (illustration 1)wasaweb application to manageandauthenticate otherapplications. One ofthe main
requirements forthis applicationwasasinglesign-onservice.Thisallowed authenticationto bebuiltinone
locationandbeimplementedin many differentapplications. Forexample, users wouldbeableto loginusing
theirexistingcredentials, andbeable to access otherNASAapplications withoutauthenticatingagain.The
secondapplication Iworked on (illustration2)was an internal qualificationplanapp. Previously, theviewingof
employee qualifications was managed through excel spreadsheets. Ibuilta databasedrivenapplicationto
streamlinethe process ofmanagingqualifications. Employeeswouldbeable to login securelytoview, editand
update theirpersonalqualifications.
Myfirst Internshipat KSC was during thespring2011 semester. Oneofmyclose friends andcolleagues,
Katelynn Booth, originallymotivated me to apply. Sheinternedwiththeeducation directorate duringthe
summer2008 semester. Katelynn would tell me extraordinary stories ofthe experiences shehadwith NASA
which inspiredme to go onlineandapply. Sincethis summerwas notmyfirsttimehereasanintern, Iwas
familiarwith the process. Ialso had the same mentorand officeas before. Eventhough this wasa continuation
from spring, Ilearneda lotand workedon differentprojects.
WorkingatNASAfor closeto 6months has moved mycareerplansand goals drastically. When Ifirst started
college, Ienteredasa ComputerEngineer. Justbeforemy experienceshere, Iswitched mymajorto Electrical
Engineeringinanattemptto leave programmingbehindmefor good. Little did Iknow, Iwas offered an
internship a fewweekslaterprogrammingin Ruby onRails. Once Iarrived, Iwas veryintimidated,butaftera
fewweeks ofsuccessfulprogramming, Ibeganto loveit. Itmaybeveryspecificto the language I'm
programmingin, but I'm rethinkingwhere Iwantto gowithmycareer.
As this internshipfinishes, I'mhoping to presentmyinternal qualifications application to theheadofNASA
Engineering, sectionC (NE-C). My mentorand Iare planningto puttogethera presentationforthelastweek of
myinternship. Ifsuccessful, this application willbeusedbyNE-C managersto keeptrack ofthe qualifications
ofeachemployeein ourdepartment. Ipersonallybelievethrough my experience, it's reallyimportantto dowhat
you reallyenjoy. Workingfull-time atajobthat's notenjoyable, even ifyou're getting paidalot, canbe
miserable. Find somethingyouhavea passionfor and pursueit. Ifyou choosethejobyou love, you don'thave
toworka single dayinyourlife.
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Illustration 1: NE-CApplications
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Illustration 2: Qualifications Plan