All Aboard Rails

Rails Magazine releases Issue #4 in print edition

Rupak Ganguly — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:33:00 +0000

Dubbed as “Future of Rails”, Rails Magazine released Issue #4 in print. You can download the print edition from here. This issue brings 32-pages, filled with exclusive RubyKaigi 2009 conference coverage, in-depth articles, interviews with David Heinemeier Hansson, Matz, Yehuda Katz, Tom Enebo and Koichi Sasada.

The RubyKaigi 2009 coverage provides a nice roundup about the conference with articles, photos and session information. The interviews are great giving insights into Rails 3, Ruby 1.9 and JRuby. And, last but not the least, this issue also brings a wealth of knowledge via the fine articles on various topics.

I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing Yehuda Katz and Tom Enebo and I thank them both for their participation.

If you have any feedback, please do write to us or participate in the survey to tells us what you want to read.

Please be on the lookout for the free downloadable digital version which will be released soon!

Table of Contents:

A Word From the Editor by Olimpiu Metiu

Background Processing with Delayed_Job by James Harrison

Generating PDF with ODF templates by Rodrigo Rosenfeld Rosas

Interview with Yehuda Katz by Yehuda Katz and Rupak Ganguly

Interview with David Heinemeier Hansson by Mark Coates

Feel the Radiance with Radiant CMS by Saurabh Bhatia

Interview with Thomas Enebo by Thomas Enebo and Rupak Ganguly

Oracle Tips and Tricks by Greg Donald

Ruby Kaigi Rails Magazine Exclusive Coverage by Khaled al Habache

RubyKaigi 2009 Roundup by Ehab El-Badry

Interview with Matz by Yukihiro Matsumoto and Muhammad Ali

Interview with Koichi Sasada by Koichi Sasada and Muhammad Ali

Tip: has_one and nested form/attributes

Rupak Ganguly — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:59:35 +0000

Although, the usage of nested forms with has_many associations is well documented, I found that especially the call ..build that works for has_many associations do not work for has_one associations. For the code to work for has_one associations, use this instead:
.build_
E.g book.build_author where book has_one association to author.

Hope this helps.

How to: Edit Rails app online with HerokuGarden

Rupak Ganguly — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:00:00 +0000

In a previous post, I talked about How to: Deploy application from Git repo to Heroku. Now, let’s be a little more adventurous and see if we can make changes to code using an online code editor at HerokuGarden. That gives us immense freedom to make changes to our application from anywhere you are as long as you have an internet connection and a browser. Let’s see step-by-step how that can be done.

Install HerokuGarden

1. First, let’s install HerokuGarden gem on our local machine

By issuing the following command, we will install the herokugarden gem.

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ gem install herokugarden 

---> Installing herokugarden v0.4.2
---> Migrate local checkouts using the git:transition command: 

     cd myapp/
     herokugarden git:transition 

Successfully installed herokugarden-0.4.2
1 gem installed
Installing ri documentation for herokugarden-0.4.2...
Installing RDoc documentation for herokugarden-0.4.2...

Note that if you had a cloned your Heroku repo to your local machine, you could issue the command as below to move that code to HerokuGarden. So, in our case we get an error as our local machine is not cloned from Heroku repo but cloned from Unfuddle/GitHub repo.

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ herokugarden git:transition

The current directory does not contain a known Heroku app.

I personally like my master copy of the application code to be in my choice of git repo provider and not Heroku. The Heroku repo is only used as a temporary repo for deployment purposes.

2. So, let’s see what herokugarden gem has to offer. The following command lists all the available commands along with their usages.

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ herokugarden
=== Heroku Garden Commands
  list - list your apps
  create [] - create a new app
  info  - show app info, like web url and git repo
  update  - update the app
    --name 
    --public (true|false)
    --mode (production|development)
  sharing  - manage collaborators
    --add 
    --remove 
    --access (edit|view)
  rake   - remotely execute a rake command
  destroy  - destroy the app permanently
  keys - manage your user's ssh public keys for git access
    --add []
    --remove  

Example story:
  herokugarden create myapp
  git clone git@herokugarden.com:myapp.git
  cd myapp
  (...make edits...)
  git add .
  git commit -m "changes"
  git push
  herokugarden update myapp --public true --mode production

Create a new application

3. Now, let’s create a new application at HerokuGarden. Well, I know, we already have an application “QParty” with so much code. Don’t worry, we just need to create an application at HerokuGarden so that HerokuGarden creates a repo for us. We will overwrite all the application code that HerokuGarden generates by default, with our latest code from our Unfuddle/GitHub master code repo. I will show you how in a moment.

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ herokugarden create qparty
Created http://qparty.herokugarden.com/ | git@herokugarden.com:qparty.git

4. Let’s see if our app is created at HerokuGarden.

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ herokugarden list
Enter your Heroku credentials.
Email: rupakg@gmail.com
Password:
Uploading ssh public key C:\Users\Rupak/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
qparty

5. Now, recall that to push to a git repo we need to tell git about a remote. We already have two remotes as below:

a) Unfuddle/GitHub (master code repo)

b) Heroku (deployment repo)

We need to add the repo for HerokuGarden (online code repo) created automatically in step 3. when we created the app on HerokuGarden. We will add a remote to this third repo by issuing the following command:

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ git remote add herokugarden git@herokugarden.com:qparty.git

6. Now, that we have a remote setup we can easily push our latest code to the online code repo at HerokuGarden. The following commands do exactly that:

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ git push -f herokugarden master
Counting objects: 620, done.
Compressing objects: 100% (431/431), done.
Writing objects: 100% (620/620), 359.36 KiB | 55 KiB/s, done.
Total 620 (delta 188), reused 544 (delta 151)
refs/heads/master: 34dcb40a5a6b24d05a9cf9f709ce0236643a79e3 -> 64d9cfb515701f4faee62d703b9
0d195e998416e
HEAD is now at 64d9cfb... fixed title yet again
master -> master (forced update)it
Running migrations...
App restarting...
######################################################################## 100.0% 

Deployed to http://qparty.herokugarden.com

7. Let’s see if our code has been successfully deployed to HerokuGarden. Go to http://qparty.herokugarden.com and we see our code online. Yeah.

That’s it. You have connected to your git rep, deployed code to HerokuGarden online editor. Now, you have the freedom to code anywhere and instantly deploy you changes. Enjoy!

How to: Deploy application from Git repo to Heroku

Rupak Ganguly — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:22:00 +0000

Well, I am sure you have looked for a less expensive (maybe free!) Rails hosting solution. I use a solution that lets me test drive or deploy an idea I want to show to a client or a friend quickly. Anyway, the point of this article is a quick and possibly free deployment solution that does the job. It focuses on getting the application deployed rather than worry about the setup, database migrations and configuration involved at the hosting provider. I found Heroku to fit the bill perfectly. So, here is a run down on how you could try it as well.

Beyond the basic Heroku deployment scenario

I am assuming you can get up and running on the basics of Heroku by following the quick start instructions here, but I will be talking about a scenario which has a little twist. My scenario is that I have an existing app. on a remote repo (Unfuddle in my case or GitHub in your case or any other for that matter). I have my local machine setup with a clone from my remote repo. I have it all worked out and I make changes and push them to my remote repo.

Goal: I want to deploy my application “QParty” to Heroku. It is just a fun little Follow my step-by-step directions to the goal.

1. Sync local repo to remote repo

Check to see if the local git repo is synced with remote master code repo at Unfuddle/GitHub.

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ git push unfuddle master
Counting objects: 19, done.
Compressing objects: 100% (13/13), done.
Writing objects: 100% (14/14), 1.21 KiB, done.
Total 14 (delta 8), reused 0 (delta 0)
To git@xxx.unfuddle.com:xxx/qparty.git
   593aae6..64d9cfb  master -> master

2. Install Heroku

The following command will install the Heroku gem if you don’t have it already.

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ gem install heroku
Successfully installed rest-client-1.0.3
Successfully installed configuration-0.0.5
Successfully installed launchy-0.3.3
Successfully installed json-1.1.7-x86-mswin32
Successfully installed heroku-1.0
5 gems installed
Installing ri documentation for rest-client-1.0.3...
Installing ri documentation for launchy-0.3.3...
Installing ri documentation for json-1.1.7-x86-mswin32...
Installing ri documentation for heroku-1.0...
Installing RDoc documentation for rest-client-1.0.3...
Installing RDoc documentation for launchy-0.3.3...
Installing RDoc documentation for json-1.1.7-x86-mswin32...
Installing RDoc documentation for heroku-1.0...

3. Create a fresh new app at Heroku

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ heroku create qparty
Enter your Heroku credentials.
Email: xxx@yyy.com
Password:
Uploading ssh public key C:\Users\Rupak/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
Created http://qparty.heroku.com/ | git@heroku.com:qparty.git 
Git remote heroku added

4. Push your code to Heroku and also deploy it

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ git push heroku master
Counting objects: 13, done.
Compressing objects: 100% (7/7), done.
Writing objects: 100% (7/7), 1.89 KiB, done.
Total 7 (delta 6), reused 0 (delta 0) 

-----> Heroku receiving push
-----> Rails app detected
       Compiled slug size is 252K 

-----> Launching..... done http://qparty.heroku.com deployed to Heroku 
   64d9cfb..bfed5c3  master -> master

5. Check to see if your app is deployed at Heroku

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ heroku list
favlist
qparty

Yeah, it is listed. Now, test the app at http://qparty.heroku.com in your favorite browser.

By the way, if you like to see some more information about your app at Heroku, do the following:

Rupak@RG4WIX /c/MyStuff/SvnCode/GitRepo/qparty
$ heroku info
=== qparty
Web URL:        http://qparty.heroku.com/ 
Git Repo:       git@heroku.com:qparty.git
Repo size:      484k
Slug size:      248k
Data size:      0K in 0 table
Owner:          xxx@yyy.com

That’s it. You have connected to your git repo, uploaded code to Heroku and deployed your application to Heroku in a snap.

Rails Magazine releases free digital edition of Issue #3

Rupak Ganguly — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:49:00 +0000

The free digital edition of Rails Magazine Issue #3 was released today. You can also buy the print edition. I am very proud to have done three interviews with big names in the Rails world: Carl Mercier, Ilya Grigorik and Ryan Singer. Apart from the interviews this issue is a big one. It has illustrations by DHH. It is packed with nice articles:

Create a code snippet app
Working on a typical Open Source Rails project
Theme Support
Observer and Singleton design patterns
JRuby monitoring with JMX
Ruby Web Frameworks: A Dive into Waves
How to Implement Automated Testing
Ruby on Rails & Flex
Workflow solutions with AASM

Please check back our site for our next regular edition – coming soon!

It was great fun to work on this issue. Let me know in the comments if you liked it. It helps us to bring you stuff that you like.

Rails Magazine releases print edition of Issue #3

Rupak Ganguly — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:30:00 +0000

The print edition of Rails Magazine Issue #3 was released today. The free online digital version is soon to follow in a week. You can buy the print edition now. I am very proud to have done three interviews with big names in the Rails world: Carl Mercier, Ilya Grigorik and Ryan Singer. Apart from the interviews this issue is a big one. It has illustrations by DHH. It is packed with nice articles:

Create a code snippet app
Working on a typical Open Source Rails project
Theme Support
Observer and Singleton design patterns
JRuby monitoring with JMX
Ruby Web Frameworks: A Dive into Waves
How to Implement Automated Testing
Ruby on Rails & Flex
Workflow solutions with AASM

Please check back our site for our next regular edition – coming soon!

It was great fun to work on this issue. Let me know in the comments if you liked it. It helps us to bring you stuff that you like.

Install SQLite3 on Windows

Rupak Ganguly — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:48:00 +0000

I found this great screencast that shows how easily you can install SQLite3 on Windows. So, here you go:

Install SQLite3 on Windows

Ruby on Rails resources for newbies

Rupak Ganguly — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Beginner Books

Agile Web Development with Rails Edition 3
Build Your Own Ruby on Rails Web Applications by Patrick Lenz

Advanced Books

Advanced Rails Recipes: 84 New Ways to Build Stunning Rails Apps, by Mike Clark
The Rails Way
The Ruby Way by Hal Fulton

But, I would also suggest you check out these other free resources which keeps up to date with the technology.

Screencasts and Podcasts

Railscasts by Ryan Bates - http://www.railscasts.com
Learning Rails - http://www.buildingwebapps.com/podcasts
Peepcode Screencasts – http://www.peepcode.com

Learning Sites

Ruby Learning Hub - http://www.rubylearning.org/class/ by Satish Talim. They have a lot of free courses on various subjects but one should do the Ruby course first.

Magazines

Rails Magazine - www.railsmagazine.com

Top Blogs

http://www.loudthinking.com/ by David Heinemeier Hansson (creator of Rails)
http://www.rubyinside.com/ by Peter Cooper.
http://mephistoblog.com/ by Rick Olson and Justin Palmer
http://hivelogic.com/ by Dan Benjamin
http://redhanded.hobix.com/ by _why the lucky stiff
http://nubyonrails.com/ by Geoffrey Grosenbach
http://errtheblog.com by PJ Hyett and Chris Wanstrath
http://www.slash7.com by Amy Hoy
http://weblog.rubyonrails.org by the Rails core team
http://weblog.jamisbuck.org/ by Jamis Buck
http://www.railsenvy.com/ by Gregg Pollack

Rails Magazine releases PDF version of Special Edition – RailsConf 2009 Report

Rupak Ganguly — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:03:00 +0000

After Rails Magazine released the print version of the Special Edition – RailsConf 2009 Report, today they released the downloadable digital edition (PDF). Go grab it from the Rails Magazine website here and while you are there, take the survey to tell us what you like or dislike. Do not forget to share the news.

Apart from me putting in a lot of effort on this special edition as an editor, I managed to get out an article and also landed two interviews with Ryan Bates (http://railscasts.com) and Geoffrey Grosenbach (http://peepcode.com).

Download digital edition

This concise issue of Rails Magazine covers RailsConf 2009 – in-depth commentary, photography and pointers to related resources.

Interviews with attendees:

Ryan Bates (railscasts.com) by Rupak Ganguly
Geoffrey Grosenbach (peepcode.com) by Rupak Ganguly
Ben Johnson (binarylogic.com) by Bob Martens

If you did not attend RailsConf, this is one of the best ways to get up to speed on the conference, what’s planned for Rails 3 and related information. For those who attended, this should provide a good recap and insights by presenting different perspectives.

Please check back our site for our next regular edition – coming soon!

It was great fun to work on this special report on RailsConf. Let me know in comments if you liked it. It helps us to bring you stuff that you like.

Installing Rails plugins from Github on Windows

Rupak Ganguly — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:13:00 +0000

Well, I have installed several Rails plugins but I was bummed when I tried to install the re-captcha plugin from Github. The command belwo just fails silently and creates an empty folder “recaptcha” under vendor/plugins:

ruby script/plugin install git://github.com/ambethia/recaptcha.git

Well, after a little googling, I found out here that using a http moniker instead of the git moniker would solve the issue like so:

ruby script/plugin install http://github.com/ambethia/recaptcha.git

Well, no luck. Same empty folder. So, now reading the comment from Tom in the above article, I found out that what really works is the adding a trailing slash at the end of the above command like so:

ruby script/plugin install http://github.com/ambethia/recaptcha.git/

Bliss at last. The plugin directory has files now. Hope you did not have to spend too much time searching for this…