nano RAILS: development, testing and hosting tidbits

ANN: rails-undo-redo

Posted on Mon Feb 18 01:03:00 UTC 2008

To this day, very few web apps provide any undo/redo capabilities. This is really not such a good thing for usability. There are a few exceptions like gmail, but it does not go far enough to provide what every one is used on their desktop.

Ever since I read Assaf’s post on the subject, and left hungry for more, as Assaf only helps you on the UI side and leaves you all the heavy lifting, I have been thinking that there must be a way to make it a lot easier to implement undo/redo in a consistent manner, and in a way that is as easy as rails has gotten us used to.

After a few failed attempts, and building on the work of Brian Durand and his Acts As Revisionable and ActsAsTrashable plugins, that I’ve reused (and probably abused as well), I have come to realize a few (obvious?) things, namely that:

for Undo/Redo to work, it needs to

• Work across all models
• Capture the list of changed objects (UndoRecords)
• Group these UndoRecords per User Action (UndoActions)

Then undo and redo are just a simple matter of replaying the UndoRecords in the right order.

All my previous attempts, and most other plugins I got inspiration from focused on one model, and even though you need this as a building block, for any real application, you need to be able to undo changes across multiple models (even beyond belongs_to, has_many type changes).

When you look at the types of changes to a model in details, you really have 3 types of changes Create, Update and Destroy (these are the C-U-D in CRUD, even if you are not doing REST), and undoing each one requires special handling, so this is also tracked and managed by UndoRecord.

To make a long story short, I’ve packaged all these ideas into a new Rails plugin: Rails Undo Redo (and very soon a gem as well, because this can help, and that’s also easy, or very easy), you can now easily transform any Rails Application using Active Record into a full fledged multi level undo/redo application like most desktop application.

For a full how-to, read the Rails Undo Redo project page, or try the Rails Undo Redo demo.

Posted in News, Rails  |  Tags undo  |  5 comments

git, submodules and Capistrano

Posted on Sun Feb 17 21:47:00 UTC 2008

If you use git submodules, as git-rails does, and want to use Capistano, you’ll need to patch patch Capistrano (lib/capistano/recipes/deploy/scm/git.rb) to make sure your submodules get included.

        def checkout(revision, destination)
          git      = command

          branch   = head

          fail "No branch specified, use for example 'set :branch, \"origin/master\"' in your deploy.rb" unless branch

          if depth = configuration[:git_shallow_clone]
            execute  = "#{git} clone --depth #{depth} #{configuration[:repository]} #{destination} && " 
          else
            execute  = "#{git} clone #{configuration[:repository]} #{destination} && " 
          end

          execute += "cd #{destination} && #{git} checkout -b deploy #{branch}" 

          if submodules = configuration[:git_enable_submodules]
            execute += " && git-submodule init &&" 
            execute += "git-submodule update" 
          end

          execute
        end

set :git_enable_submodules,1

Or you can use the trunk version (post 2.1), which includes that support already.

Posted in Rails  |  Tags git, rails  |  1 comment

Debugging Specs

Posted on Sun Feb 17 00:11:00 UTC 2008

It is easy enough to debug specs on by one. For this you just run the ruby file that contains the spec with ruby-debug instead of ruby:

rdebug spec/rur_spec.rb

But when running via rake, you can’t do this. A simple solution is to add these lines in the spec file you want to debug (or in spec_helper.rb):

require_library_or_gem 'ruby-debug'
Debugger.start

And you are in business…

Posted in Rails, Testing  |  Tags debugging, rspec  |  1 comment

git branches, merges and remotes

Posted on Thu Feb 07 00:21:00 UTC 2008

After releasing the first version of git-rails, Ron Damen created a clone of the repository and started improving on it. And I liked what he was doing, so now was the time to figure out how to get some of his changes back in to the master repo.

Here is the list of steps (and what they mean) to get his changes into the master branch on Gitorious.

git remote add ron git://gitorious.org/git-rails/rons-mainline-clone.git

[remote "ron"]
        url = git://gitorious.org/git-rails/rons-mainline-clone.git
        fetch = +refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/ron/*

git checkout -b ron/master

git pull ron master

git checkout master
git checkout ron/master

git branch merge-ron
git status # does not switch branch!
git checkout merge-ron

This could be used as a shortcut: checkout -b merge-ron

git cherry-pick dc3de57a073e24eeb398e0cacbe52340258e861b
git cherry-pick 61579f92e1bfc95e582728011fcd21c79f08c3ae

git checkout master
git merge merge-ron

git push origin

From now on, the only thing needed to get more changes from Ron is to pull changes into ron/master, cherry-pick changes and merge back into master. Sweet!

Posted in Rails  |  Tags git, rails  |  0 comments

ANN: git-rails

Posted on Tue Feb 05 01:12:00 UTC 2008

Git is quickly becoming one of the best option for using a DVCS (Distributed Version Control System). Git main goal is to be quick (most everything you do is local), and has already been battle tested by the Linux Kernel dev team.

Recently, I’ve started experimenting with git after Rick switched Mephisto to git.

Even though things are pretty straightforward, some things are easier than others, especially when you have to take it all in in one shot.

So, over the weekend, I created git-rails, completed with a rubyforge project, an installable gem (gem install git-rails), and a git repository hosted by Gitorious

1. init repository (hookup to remote git repository, rails aware .gitignore)
2. install plugin managed by git (using git submodules)
3. update plugin

For now, I’m happy to use giston to manage svn hosted plugins, but I’m considering whether to add that functionality as well. We’ll see how things go.

To get started with git-rails, head over to the new git-rails project page.

Inspired by piston, and its newest sibling: giston/braid

Posted in News, Rails  |  Tags git, rails  |  3 comments

Git to svn (read-only)

Posted on Thu Jan 31 00:54:00 UTC 2008

As a follow up to last post about setting up git with gitorious

Here are the steps to mirror a git branch into svn.

$ sudo port deactivate git-core
$ sudo port install git-core +svn

error about Error.pm:
Can't locate Error.pm in @INC (@INC contains...

$ cp /opt/local/var/macports/software/git-core/1.5.2.4_1+doc/opt/local/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/Error.pm /opt/local/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/

$ svn mkdir svn+ssh://svn.nanorails.com/home/psq/svn/plugins/plugins/rur -m "creating rur"

[svn-remote "nanorails"]
  url = svn+ssh://svn.nanorails.com/home/psq/svn/plugins/plugins/rur
  fetch = :refs/remotes/nanorails

$ git svn fetch nanorails

$ git branch -a
* master
  nanorails

$ git checkout -b local-svn nanorails
Switched to a new branch "local-svn" 

$ git branch -a
* local-svn
  master
  nanorails

Now the fun part.

$ git-svn rebase
Current branch local-svn is up to date.

$ git merge master
Merge made by recursive.
 .gitignore                            |    1 +
 MIT-LICENSE                           |   21 ++
 README                                |   48 +++++
 Rakefile                              |   20 ++
 init.rb                               |    3 +
 lib/undo_action.rb                    |   24 +++
 lib/undo_manager.rb                   |   89 ++++++++
 lib/undo_record.rb                    |  224 ++++++++++++++++++++
 lib/undoable.rb                       |   40 ++++
 lib/undoable_helper.rb                |   23 ++
 migrations/001_create_undo_records.rb |   32 +++
 spec/rur_spec.rb                      |  132 ++++++++++++
 spec/spec_helper.rb                   |   26 +++
 spec/undo_action_spec.rb              |   46 ++++
 spec/undo_manager_spec.rb             |   10 +
 spec/undo_record_spec.rb              |  368 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 spec/undoable_spec.rb                 |   46 ++++
 17 files changed, 1153 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 .gitignore
 create mode 100644 MIT-LICENSE
 create mode 100644 README
 create mode 100644 Rakefile
 create mode 100644 init.rb
 create mode 100644 lib/undo_action.rb
 create mode 100644 lib/undo_manager.rb
 create mode 100644 lib/undo_record.rb
 create mode 100644 lib/undoable.rb
 create mode 100644 lib/undoable_helper.rb
 create mode 100644 migrations/001_create_undo_records.rb
 create mode 100644 spec/rur_spec.rb
 create mode 100644 spec/spec_helper.rb
 create mode 100644 spec/undo_action_spec.rb
 create mode 100644 spec/undo_manager_spec.rb
 create mode 100644 spec/undo_record_spec.rb
 create mode 100644 spec/undoable_spec.rb

$ git-svn dcommit
Committing to svn+ssh://svn.nanorails.com/home/psq/svn/plugins/plugins/rur ...
    A    .gitignore
    A    MIT-LICENSE
    A    README
    A    Rakefile
    A    init.rb
    A    lib/undo_action.rb
    A    lib/undo_manager.rb
    A    lib/undo_record.rb
    A    lib/undoable.rb
    A    lib/undoable_helper.rb
    A    migrations/001_create_undo_records.rb
    A    spec/rur_spec.rb
    A    spec/spec_helper.rb
    A    spec/undo_action_spec.rb
    A    spec/undo_manager_spec.rb
    A    spec/undo_record_spec.rb
    A    spec/undoable_spec.rb
Committed r66
    A    Rakefile
    A    .gitignore
    A    init.rb
    A    lib/undo_manager.rb
    A    lib/undo_action.rb
    A    lib/undo_record.rb
    A    lib/undoable_helper.rb
    A    lib/undoable.rb
    A    MIT-LICENSE
    A    spec/undo_record_spec.rb
    A    spec/rur_spec.rb
    A    spec/undoable_spec.rb
    A    spec/spec_helper.rb
    A    spec/undo_manager_spec.rb
    A    spec/undo_action_spec.rb
    A    migrations/001_create_undo_records.rb
    A    README
r66 = 98602d45907206a281f597f87445397f069cdc1d (nanorails)
No changes between current HEAD and refs/remotes/nanorails
Resetting to the latest refs/remotes/nanorails

And then there was much rejoicing across the land :)

$ git checkout local-svn
$ git merge master
$ git-svn dcommit

This setup could also bring changes back from svn, which git-svn is capable of doing, but I’ll be quite happy with the read-only part.

1. using-git-with-svn
2. git-svn
3. git tutorial
4. gitorious

Update: in fact, it looks like “git-svn dcommit” from the master branch, without merging to the “local-svn” branch first, also commits to svn.

Posted in  |  Tags git  |  0 comments

Getting started with Git

Posted on Wed Jan 30 22:07:00 UTC 2008

I’ve been using git for a bit now since Rick switched Mephisto to git, but I’ve only been using an existing repository, and not using the full thing just yet.

So as I’m starting a new project, I have been taking a few notes to get started with a new project (I’m also testing gitorious.org in the process, a free git repository provided by Johan Sørensen)

.DS_Store

$ cd vendor/plugin/rur
$ git init
Initialized empty Git repository in .git/
$ git add .
$ git commit

$ git push git@gitorious.org:rur/mainline.git
The authenticity of host 'gitorious.org (67.207.146.32)' can't be established.
RSA key fingerprint is 1d:0f:80:3b:95:c5:a8:08:85:f6:fc:0a:b2:54:52:bb.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes
Warning: Permanently added 'gitorious.org,67.207.146.32' (RSA) to the list of known hosts.
No refs in common and none specified; doing nothing.
fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly

$ git clone git@gitorious.org:rur/mainline.git
Initialized empty Git repository in /Users/psq/tmp/mainline/.git/
fatal: no matching remote head
fetch-pack from 'git@gitorious.org:rur/mainline.git' failed.

[core]
        repositoryformatversion = 0
        filemode = true
        bare = false
        logallrefupdates = true
[remote "origin"]
       url = git@gitorious.org:rur/mainline.git
       fetch = +refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*
[branch "master"]
       remote = origin
       merge = refs/heads/master

$ git push origin master
updating 'refs/heads/master'
  from 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
  to   74bbfc838d4984ee81d5560daee3511fe044d36e
Generating pack...
Done counting 22 objects.
Deltifying 22 objects...
 100% (22/22) done
Writing 22 objects...
 100% (22/22) done
Total 22 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0)
refs/heads/master: 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 -> 74bbfc838d4984ee81d5560daee3511fe044d36e

Finally! And checking the gitorious site, the code has been pushed!

(You can get your push and pull urls from the mainline page.

git clone git://gitorious.org/rur/mainline.git

Now, if I can figure out the best way to get an svn mirror from gitorious, I’ll be in business!

Source (and a good tutorial): A tutorial introduction to git (for version 1.5.1 or newer)

A final note: the project referenced here is not quite fully baked, so use at your own risk…

Posted in  |  Tags git  |  1 comment

MacHeist

Posted on Sun Jan 20 21:52:00 UTC 2008

If you have a Mac, or want one, then you should surely take a look at the $49 bundle MacHeist has put together. An amazing value, with lots of cool apps. Plus 25% of your purchase goes to charities. It’s like getting 1password, CoverSutra (truly cool), and Snapz Pro for half the price, and getting all other 11 Mac Applications for free. Check it out (via Obie Fernandez)

Update: I had the link wrong (using https), and you could not see the apps. Fixed. Also forgot to mention you also get CSSEdit. And possibly VectorDesigner if they reach the $300,000 donation level.

Posted in Mac, News  |  Tags Mac os  |  2 comments

Ruby-debug quick tips: init file and -n option

Posted on Sat Jan 12 00:28:00 UTC 2008

I use ruby-debug quite a bit (too much? perhaps). And every time I start it, I find myself setting a few options (always the same ones), and it finally got to the point where I thought there had to be a better way. And there was! (Thank you, Kent)

The solution is even documented in some recent release notes:

Create a .rdebugrc in your home directory (it also looks for one in the current directory first):

set autolist
set autoeval
set autoreload
set forcestep

And voila! Each time you start rdebug, it executes this script.

An other good tip: run with -n to avoid stopping on the first instruction, now that you don’t need to run all these commands.

Update: with version 0.10, -n does not seem to be recognized, but —no-stop still works.

Posted in Rails  |  Tags debugging  |  5 comments

Ruby Gem 1.0 is out

Posted on Thu Dec 20 01:42:00 UTC 2007

RubyGem 1.0 is out.

Yeah!

Which means that if you see

undefined method `require_gem' for main:Object (NoMethodError)

You’ll need to replace require_gem by just gem.

For example, unless you have the very latest version of ruby-debug (0.9.3), you’ll see the above error. In that case, though, updating your gem is simpler.

Posted in News, Quid Pro Quo  |  Tags ruby gems  |  11 comments

Upgrade to Windows XP?

Posted on Sat Dec 15 00:48:00 UTC 2007

This was just too good to pass up! Vista has been getting a pretty bad rap anywhere you look (well, at least anywhere I look, and from second hand experience helping people with their Vista machine), so here’s your chance to finally Upgrade to XP

Ok, you can stop laughing now.

And for a real upgrade

(via Reginald)

Posted in News  |  Tags vista  |  2 comments

Removing the quarantine attribute on your application

Posted on Tue Dec 11 22:33:00 UTC 2007

With Apple latest OS, Leopard (Which I recommend highly), comes an interesting new feature (well, at least it is cute for a while, but it can get to you after a while). For annoying, try Vista

When you try to run an application you downloaded and get this message every time you try to start an application

There is an easy solution.

Check first tha it has the “com.apple.quarantine” Attribute.

xattr -l BetterZip.app

sudo xattr -d com.apple.quarantine BetterZip.app