The Austin American Statesman features an article today on Rails, Austin on Rails , and Damon Clinkscales (who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with his wife Sarah while at the Maker Faire in Austin.)

That passion is what led software engineer Damon Clinkscales to start the Austin on Rails users group two years ago, when the technology had little more than a small cult following.

“The idea was to get people together and talk about what we were learning,” said Clinkscales, who works in Austin for Raleigh, N.C.-based Vital Source Technologies. “Eventually it started really catching on, and companies started using Rails and coming in to show us what they’ve done.”

At the recent meeting, which included a speaker from Sun Microsystems Inc. touting its coding tool for Rails, Clinkscales asked for a show of hands: How many attendees worked for companies that are hiring Rails programmers? How many were Rails programmers looking for jobs?

Eight had positions to fill, and four were looking.

“That’s kind of the story right now,” Clinkscales told them. “There are more jobs than there are Rails people.”

After the meeting, the group headed to B.D. Riley’s Irish Pub on Sixth Street to continue the Rails conversation over pints of Fireman’s #4 beer.

“What happens after the official meeting is the most important part,” Clinkscales said. “It’s where you make contacts that lead to new ideas, new projects and new friendships.”

If you’re looking to improve your Rails skills don’t forget our new book Advanced Rails.