Rails Configuration

So this article you can file away as what I learned today #TIL. This surprised me so much I am writing to share. This is written specifically about Ruby on Rails and the initial set up.

Details

When ever I start a new project with a CLI generate, I spend several minutes setting the environment up like I like it to begin developing, and I imagine any developer does the same.

For instance, when I start a React project using Create React App, it is always the same:

• Make src/components directory
• Copy over my dotfiles for the Eslint and prettier configuration I prefer.
• Copy my renovatebot.json configuration file
• Delete CSS Modules, install sass, and copy my Sass 7-in-1 boilerplate.

This was so annoying I created my own React Boilerplate to stream line this process. I will write about this very soon.

Ruby on Rails

I started using Ruby on Rails at Flatiron School as a standalone and back-end API. I have developed a methodology and found myself setting the environment up on this platform as well.

Today I read an article by Samuel Mullen Configuring New Rails Projects and learned you can set up .railsrc and template files to streamline setup. I have researched some more and have developed a work in progress configuration for myself.

To get started make sure, in your user account route, create a dotfile: .railsrc.

Database

When I first started using Rails, I used a SQlite3 database which Rails defaults. It was easy to setup and use, but after a few challenging deploys to Heroku, which supports Postgres, I migrated to Postgres on all of my projects. So, the first switch I added to the railsrc file was the toggle for the Postgres DB (see below). Second I added a template file which I will detail below:

--database=postgresql
--template=/home/webrev/development/my-docs/rails-template.rb

Template

Let us go over some of these settings numbered below:

1. I am installing a few gem and then run bundle install.
2. Set the generator to not install stylesheets when resources are generated because I will use a SCSS Boilerplate.
3. Create the Postgres DB's so I do not have to after I open the project.
4. Initialize a repo and make the Initial commit. This step is not perfect. It does as expected, but as the installation continues, not all of the changes are committed. I am still working on this step.

#add guard-minitest and spring to dev - 1
gem_group :development do
  gem 'guard-minitest'
end

gem_group :test do
  gem 'minitest-rails-capybara'
end

run "bundle install"

#config generator defaults - 2
environment "config.generators do |g| \n g.stylesheets false \n end"

#create postgres DB for postgress.app - 3
run "psql -c 'CREATE DATABASE #{app_path}_development;'"
run "psql -c 'CREATE DATABASE #{app_path}_test;'"

#Initialize local Git repository and Initial Commit - 4
git :init
git add: "."
git commit: "-m 'Initial commit'"

To create a new project:
rails new my-rails-project

That is it... it creates my DB's, with no self typed command line switches. MAGIC. Well I can do some much more than just this but it is a start.