The Rhodes framework is an open source Ruby-based platform for building locally executing, device-optimized mobile applications. It is similar in concept to MVC frameworks such as Rails, Merb and Camping but much lighter weight (and hence executable on a mobile device) than any of these. Along the way of course, we had to implement Ruby for these device operating systems (iPhone, Windows Mobile, RIM and Symbian).

In general, developer productivity is much higher in Rhodes than writing to diverse native device operating systems and APIs since most of your UI customization can be done in HTML templates (ERB files). Rhodes also provides access to native device capabilities such as GPS and PIM data via an extended set of tags (e.g. ).