Eli,
Thank you for your comments and pointing me to the API docs.
So, after diving head first into Ruby on Rails and Shopify, here's my take in regards to the API. Tell me if I'm close.
The Shopify API simply exposes the data to (whatever) programming language you are using. In my case it's Ruby on Rails. Really, I need to think of the API's as exposing the store's data so I can get it out and update it.
How I get to it is a function of the tool. (ie Ruby, PHP, Java, etc)
In the case of Ruby on Rails getting to the Variants I used: @Variants = ShopifyAPI::Variant.find(:all)
This allowed me to get to all the Variant Properties.
I guess I don't fully understand how Shopify API and Ruby on Rails interact with each other and was looking for some help there. I did download the Shopify API generate from Github and that was very helpful. I suspect it gives me a small window into what I can do.
Left wondering the big picture between Shopify API and Ruby on Rails. In all fairness, this would be a monumental task because if you do it for one you'll have to do it for all. Then you'll have to start another company just to deal with all the programming languages out there. So, I get it.
I very much appreciate your help.
Terry