​Dashboards and reports are often where Rails apps go to slow down. What starts as a "simple" count or sum quietly turns into expensive queries, background job pileups, and unhappy users staring at a spinner.

​This talk is about taking back control by using smart aggregation strategies to make Rails dashboards fast, predictable, and easier to maintain. We'll look at how letting the database do the work it was designed for leads to cleaner Ruby, simpler application logic, and systems that don't collapse under their own weight.

​We'll explore:

​- When aggregation actually helps, and when it's overkill

​- Designing aggregation tables and indices that scale without drama

​- Keeping aggregated data fresh with background jobs that stay boring

​- Knowing when to lean on ActiveRecord, and when raw SQL is simply the right tool

​The focus is on real-world Rails systems, not theoretical optimizations.

​You'll leave with practical patterns, honest trade-offs, and concrete examples you can apply immediately whether you're inheriting a slow legacy app or building something new and want to get ahead of the problem. If you've ever looked at a slow dashboard and thought, "this should be faster," this talk is for you.

​Agenda

​5:30pm - Doors Open
5:30-6:15pm - Socializing, food & drinks
6:15-6:30pm - Announcements, project introductions
6:30-7:15pm - Powerful Data: Making Rails Apps Faster with Aggregation
7:15pm-8:00pm - Socializing, food & drinks

​Sponsors

​Thanks to our sponsors: FastRuby.io and Code and the Coding Coders who Code it!

​We are pleased to be at Indy Hall this month. Space, food, and refreshments will be provided by our sponsors! 🍕🤙🥤🤙🧊🤙🍕🤙

​Find out more about about FastRuby.io over here: https://www.fastruby.io

​Find out more about about Code and the Coding Coders who Code it over here: https://podcast.drbragg.dev