Optimizing the garbage collector in Rspec

rspec_optmization_2.rb

# delay the GC - usage as below

# Spec::Runner.configure do |config|
    .....
  
#   config.before(:each) do
#     begin_gc_deferment
#   end

#   config.after(:each) do
#     reconsider_gc_deferment
#   end

#end


DEFERRED_GC_THRESHOLD = (ENV['DEFER_GC'] || 1.0).to_f
@@last_gc_run = Time.now

def begin_gc_deferment
  GC.disable if DEFERRED_GC_THRESHOLD > 0
end
  
def reconsider_gc_deferment
  if DEFERRED_GC_THRESHOLD > 0 && Time.now - @@last_gc_run >= DEFERRED_GC_THRESHOLD
    GC.enable
    GC.start
    GC.disable

    @@last_gc_run = Time.now
  end
end

Try using either Hydra or parallel_specs to run your cucumber tests to speed it up. Also worth checking out is refactoring some of your cucumber tests code to avoid creating additional objects such as logged in users for instance. From what I understand of how cucumber works, it does full stack testing so the spec_helper methods above is no good. You would need something else like parallel_specs to run your steps in multiple processes to make any difference.