Robert Evans

This is just a quick update concerning the last post I made on the Rapid Rails Setup (RRS). I am currently writing it as a Gem. It’ll be my first attempt at writing a Gem, which I am really excited about. Until then, I have ported the bash script over to Ruby for those to use who are stuck on the dreaded Windows machine. ;)

It isn’t the most elegant looking code, but I thought I’d throw it together really quickly for others to use while I am working on the Gem. I’d love to get some feedback on what you think of the script and how it could be better. That way, I can deliver a quality Gem to make the Rails setup a cinch!

Enjoy

I’ve taken some time to cleanup my set_rails bash script and have made many changes to it. One thing I’ve come to dislike about the script is passing the variables (app name, database, svn) when I am executing the script. I tend to forget which order I had them set in, thus making a script that was meant to quickly setup a Rails app without thinking, into having to think about it and, at times, open up the script to see what order the variables go in. Perhaps you’ve had the sample problem using the script?

Another aspect I dislike is having the svn check-in and check-out split into two scripts and that are ran at different times. Makes no sense, period. It all should be done within one full swoop.

At my work, I’ve manage to sneak Ruby on Rails in, with the help of my co-developers. While doing this, I’ve helped my co-workers setup their machines so that they have Ruby, Ruby Gems and Rails installed. This way they could start learning the language. I’ve also had to setup our servers, with help from our IT department.

Safe to say, I’ve had to install Ruby Gems, a lot of them, over and over. In the future, I’ll have to setup more boxes. This brings us to my new script.

I love Textmate. It is by far the greatest text editor available. Any other editor currently on the market cannot compare to the simplicity and yet vastness of Textmate.

What I really like about it is that you can create code snippets to speed up your productivity when coding. I feel that are a few missing in the HTML and Rails bundles. So, I’ve created a few that I use often and thought others might like to use what I have created.

Working on the Mac, I’ve really become found of using Safari. One thing I wish is that it had the web developer toolbar like firefox has. Firefox is still a great browser, but on the Mac, it just doesn’t look or feel like Mac software. Version 2 of Firefox is a great improvement, but it isn’t quite there and won’t be until version 3.

Another aspect of Firefox that I like is the ability to create customized searches with keywords. Well, Safari can do the same thing with two different plugins – you only need one.

Yesterday I was asked by Yannick if it was possible to include JavaScript files within other JavaScript files. Now, from a computer science perspective, anything is possible, but JavaScript doesn’t allow a simple include “myJSfile.js”;. So what is one to do?

Update: I’ve made some updates the the script that I find useful for myself. The script will erase the README file in the root directory of the rails app, create a CHANGELOG file, add screen.css to the public folder, application.rhtml to the app/views/layouts folder, creates the database.yml.sample file in the config folder and edits the database.yml file to the way I like it to be. Calling the script has changed as well: ./set_rails myappname postgres. Basically, myappname is the name of the app and postgres is what database you are going to use for you application. It will set the database.yml file for you. You’ll just need to add your username and password for the database.

I am a huge fan of using edge Rails for all of my development work, when working with Rails. I also have a typical list of plugins I almost always use for my applications that I build. Creating the app on edge Rails, adding all the plugins, and then getting it all setup on subversion can get quite monotonous.

I’ve been wanting to take some time out and write up a bash script (sorry windows people) that will do all of this for me, thus being a painless process. It is DRYing up the process of creating a Rails application on the edge.

That’s right, Cross Connector is now free for all users. Ryan Heneise, of Art of Mission, went forward and provided this valuable resource for all users, knowing the growing need the Church has for it, for their Missionaries, as well as Missionary Agencies. A lot fo these non-profits are very tight with their budgets, because frankly, they don’t have a lot to spend and their missionaries and mission trips come first.

I’ve been working with Ryan over at Moral Metric for about 2 months now. It is a great project and one that I am becoming more and more passionate about. Not only is it a great idea, but we get to code it in Ruby on Rails. And let’s not forgot that I get to work with my friend Ryan to boot!

We have a fairly sophisticated rights and roles management for our users on Moral Metric that keeps a tight control on who can do what. It is heavily based on the CRUD principle. We needed this because we have 6 levels of access that all vary in what the user can or cannot do. The problem that we found with this is that we are hitting the database pretty hard to check if they user has permission to do this or that. So, the obvious choice was to implement caching which became my job to implement, something I have not done before in Rails – till now.

I was recently asked by Satish Talim for an interview for the blog over on Pune Ruby. It was quite a surprise to be asked and was also honored to be among some very talented Rubyists that were also interviewed.

You can also catch a picture of my daughter with me in the picture I submited for the interview. Gotta train her young!

Check it out!

It has been a bit since I have posted last and many things have been going on. I’ll do some quick updates first.

Happy Birthday Rails

First off, Happy Birthday to Rails! Rails is now 2 years old and moving into its third year of being just a hyped framework that has no potential to do anything – or so the critics say. Let me prepare you, there is a rant that is about to begin…

There are several Java developers who’ve put up a bit of a ruckus about Ruby and Rails. I’m not interested in providing them links or fueling the fire for the feud with them. I do, however, find it quite funny, that some developers are quite upset because another language, that they don’t use, is getting a lot of publicity.

My opinion on this is that some developers are stuck in their ways are not about change, even if their path is filled with numerous obsticles that makes their journey shear torment. When they see that other developers are enjoying what they are doing, they become jealous, so much so that they lash out at those who (gasp!) like what they do.

I was asked today by Yannick what my development process is when I am working on a project. It’s an interesting question, one that I have been developing and refining more recently as I have been working on bigger projects.

At work, I am the sole Web Developer and I also handle all the drafting of business documents. It’s the price to pay for having a degree in Business Administration and also being a programmer as well as working for a start-up company.

For over a year now, I have dreamed, hoped, fantasized about, and yes, even drooled over Apple’s computers. My purchase of a Mac Mini makes me one of the many PC turned Apple converts out there. And might I say that the grass is greener, much greener, on this side of the fence!

Prelude

I have been using a Dell Inspiron 1100 for about 4-5 years now as my primary computing machine. It has treated me well, until recently. First, it was Windoze, slowing up till the load time was literally 7-8 minutes, when it used to be 1-2 minutes. I don’t normally resort to name calling, but Windoze seems appropriate in this case. Everything I was doing, emailing, programming, surfing the net, was all incredibly slow. So, I did what any Windows user would do, wipe the hard drive, and reinstall Windows. My old laptop had a new found life, but unknown to me at the time, a very short life.

I often wonder how much Churches put into marketing when they design and develop their Church web sites. The strategic plan should not differ much from any other company that is designing their own web site. Often, we see Churches and Ministry web sites ripping off marketing slogans from other nationally known companies. This can be an effective approach, but it still has an underlining feeling that the Church cannot be creative enough to come up with their own slogan. Then there is the flip side that such a slogan reaches those who have one foot in the world and one foot out of the world, or better put, fence-sitters.