Rails v5.2 Cheatsheet

Updated by: Scott Borecki

Please reach out if you have any comments or suggestions for updates!

Notes About this Cheatsheet

Rails version v5.2. Run $rails -v to check your Rails version number.
Code snippets in this cheatsheet starting with $:
- Run from the terminal, usually within your project directory.
- Do not include the $ in your terminal command.
# [...] is used within example code blocks to indicate some code may have been omitted for brevity.
Warning:
- This checklist does not necessarily rely on TDD to build up the Rails application.
- It uses some code snippets with specific practical examples, so make sure to replace them as needed for your project.
This cheatsheet was adapted from other cheatsheets, including:
- https://gist.github.com/brisag/aa1d849c81d591a59e68fa7854295bc3

References

Rails Guides v5.2
Style Guides:
Turing School:
- Blogger
- Task Manager Repo

Getting Started
Models and Relationships
- Relationship Summary
- Relationship Examples
  - One-to-Many
  - Many-to-Many
Updating Database Schema
- Edit Table Column Data Type
- Add New Column to Table
Testing
Create Routes
Create Controllers
Create Views
Rails Helpers

Getting Started

1. Create Rails Application

From the command line, start a new rails app. For example:

$ rails new project_name -T -d='postgresql' --skip-spring --skip-turbolinks

Command-Line Flag	Description
`new`	Tells Rails to create a new Rails application.
`project_name`	The name of your project.
`-T`	Tells Rails we are not going to use the default rails testing database (We will be using RSpec instead - see Step 3).
`-d='postgresql'`	Tells Rails that we will be using a PostgreSQL database.
`--skip-spring`	Google this if you're interested :)
`--skip-turbolinks`	Google this if you're interested :)

2. Environment Setup

Install any gems you need by inserting the gems into the Gemfile (project_directory/gemfile) within the group :development, :test code block. This will make the gems available in your development and test environments. For example, some handy, often-used gems:

# Gemfile
# [...]
group :development, :test do
  gem 'pry'
  gem 'rspec-rails', '~> 4.0.1'
  gem 'capybara'
  gem 'launchy'
  gem 'simplecov'
  gem 'shoulda-matchers', '~> 3.1'
  gem 'orderly'
  # Some other gems
end
# [...]

Then run $ bundle install to install the newly added gems.

Gem	Description	Docs
pry	A runtime developer console and IRB alternative with powerful introspection capabilities	docs
rspec-rails	Brings RSpec testing framework to Rails	docs
capybara	Helps you test web applications by simulating how a real user would interact with your app	docs
launchy	Helper class for launching cross-platform applications in a fire and forget manner	docs
simplecov	A code coverage analysis tool for Ruby	docs
shoulda-matchers	Provides RSpec- and Minitest-compatible one-liners to test common Rails functionality that, if written by hand, would be much longer, more complex, and error-prone	docs
orderly	Rspec matcher for asserting that this appears_before(that) in rspec request specs	docs

Run the following command in the terminal to install RSpec in your rails application (reference: rspec-rails docs):
```
$ rails g rspec:install
```
Add the following simplecov configuration code in the spec/rails_helper.rb file at the top of the file as follows (reference: simplecov docs):
```
# spec/rails_helper.rb
require 'simplecov'
SimpleCov.start
# [...]
```

Add the following shoulda-matchers configuration code at the bottom of spec/rails_helper.rb (reference: shoulda-matchers docs):

# spec/rails_helper.rb
# [...]
# Configures Shoulda-Matchers to use RSpec as the test framework and full matcher libraries for Rails
Shoulda::Matchers.configure do |config|
  config.integrate do |with|
    with.test_framework :rspec
    with.library :rails
  end
end

From the command line run $ bundle install. Sometimes it will be necessary to run $ bundle update to get the latest versions of the gems.

3. Create Database and Resources

To create the database in the terminal run:
```
$ rails db:create
```
- If you get a warning that database already exists, you likely need to drop the table then create a new table. In the terminal run:
```
$ rails db:drop
$ rails db:create

# Or you can chain multiple tasks in one command:

$ rails db:{drop,create}
```

To generate your database migrations (Rails Guides: AR Migrations) in the terminal run:

For "no" relationship (i.e. no foreign keys): for an example with a table called Articles with title (with string datatype) and body (with text datatype) columns:
```
# Practical Example:

$ rails generate migration CreateArticles title:string body:text
```
For a "belongs to" relationship: for an example with a table called Comments with author_name and body columns that "belongs to" the Article table via a foreign key:
```
# Practical Example:

$ rails generate migration CreateComments author_name:string body:text article:references
```

If you need to add a relationship after you migrated (i.e. add a foreign key column): for an example with a table called Comments that "belongs to" the Article table:

# Practical Example:

$ rails generate migration AddArticlesToComments article:references

# Practical Example:

# db/migrate/[timestamp]_add_articles_to_comments.rb
# [...]
def change
               # primary table      # adds foreign key to primary table
 add_reference :comments, :article, foreign_key: true
                          # foreign table
end

Check the generated migration file (within the db/migrate/ directory) to make sure the table is being created with the specified columns and to add the timestamps stamps column at the bottom:

# Practical Example:

# db/migrate/[timestamp]_create_articles.rb
class CreateArticles < ActiveRecord::Migration[5.2]
  def change
    create_table :articles do |t|
      t.string :title
      t.text :body

      t.timestamps # You need to manually add this line (if you want timestamp columns).  
                   # This will create the created_at and updated_at timestamp columns.
    end
  end
end

After a migration is successfully generated, run $ rails db:migrate in the terminal.

Models and Relationships

Reference: Rails Guides: AR Associations

Relationship Summary

One-to-Many

The objects on the many end (that belong_to the one object) should:
- have a foreign key referencing the one object.
- be singular.
  - For example, "an article has_many comments and a comment belongs_to an article".
  - The table object after belongs_to should be singular.
  - The table objects after has_many should be plural.

Many-to-Many

The joins table should have a foreign key referencing each of the tables it belongs_to.

Relationship Examples

One-to-Many

Create a model file (*.rb) in app/models/ (e.g. app/models/comment.rb).
For example, the many side of the relationship (belongs_to):

# Practical Example:

# app/models/comment.rb
class Comment < ApplicationRecord  
   belongs_to :article   
end

Create a model file (*.rb) in app/models/ (e.g. app/models/article.rb).
For example, the one side of the relationship (has_many):
```
# Practical Example:

# app/models/article.rb
class Article < ActiveRecord::Base
   has_many :comments
end
```

Create a test file (*_spec.rb) in spec/models/, (e.g. spec/models/comment_spec.rb).
For example, the many side of the relationship:

# Practical Example:

# spec/models/comment_spec.rb
require "rails_helper"

describe Comment, type: :model do
   describe "relationships" do
      it { should belong_to(:article) }
   end
end

Create a test file (*_spec.rb) in spec/models/, (e.g. spec/models/article_spec.rb).
For example, for the one side of the relationship:

# Practical Example:

# spec/models/article_spec.rb
require "rails_helper"

describe Article, type: :model do
   describe "validations" do
      it { should have_many(:comments) }
   end
end

Many-to-Many

When referring to a CamelCased table with multiple words, for example SongArtists in a test or model, use lower_snake_case (e.g. song_artists).
Create a model file (*.rb) in app/models/ (e.g. app/models/tag.rb), or add code if it has already been created for each side of the many-to-many relationship. Make sure to do this for each of the many-to-many models. For example the has many side of the relationship:
```
# Practical Example:

# app/models/tag.rb
class Tag < ApplicationRecord
   has_many :taggings
   has_many :articles, through: :taggings
end  
```

Create a join model in app/models/, for example, app/models/tagging.rb.
For example the join model,

# Practical Example:

# app/models/tagging.rb
class Tagging < ApplicationRecord
   belongs_to :tag
   belongs_to :article
end

Create a test for each has many side of the relationship, for example, spec/models/tag_spec.rb.
For example:

# Practical Example:

# spec/models/tag_spec.rb
require "rails_helper"

describe Tag, type: :model do
   describe "relationships" do
      it {should have_many(:tagings)}
      it {should have_many(:articles).through(:taggings)}
   end
end

Create a test for the joins, for example, spec/models/tagging_spec.rb.
For example:

# Practical Example:

# spec/models/tagging_spec.rb
require "rails_helper"

describe Tagging, type: :model do
   describe "relationships" do
      it {should belong_to(:tag)}
      it {should belong_to(:article)}
   end
end

Updating Database Schema

Edit Table Column Data Type

Reference: Rails Guides: Changing Columns

When you need to make an edit after you have migrated, you should create a new migration.

Generate a new migration in the terminal.
For example, to change the datatype of the body column to text in the Comments table:

# Example Structure:

$ rails generate migration ChangeColumnNameToBeDatatypeInTableName

# Practical Example:

$ rails generate migration ChangeBodyToBeTextInComments

Open the migration file and put in the change. For example:

# Example Structure:

# db/migrate/[timestamp]_change_column_name_to_be_datatype_in_table_name.rb
class ChangeColumnNameToBeDatatypeInTableName < ActiveRecord::Migration[5.2]
  def change
    change_column :table_name, :column_name, :datatype # This is what you put within the 'change' method code block
  end
end

# Practical Example:

# db/migrate/[timestamp]_change_body_to_be_text_in_comments.rb
class ChangeBodyToBeTextInComments < ActiveRecord::Migration[5.2]
  def change
    change_column :comments, :body, :text # This is what you put within the 'change' method code block
  end
end

Run $ rails db:migrate.
Check database schema file (db/schema.rb) to confirm the column data type has been updated.

Add New Column to Table

Reference: Rails Guides: Add Column

Generate a new migration in the terminal.
For example, to add an email column to the Comments table:

# Example Structure:

$ rails generate migration AddColumnNameToTableName

# Practical Example:

$ rails generate migration AddEmailToComments

Open the migration file and put in the change (or to confirm it was automatically generated, if the migration name follows the form AddXXXToYYY). For example:

# Example Structure:

# db/migrate/[timestamp]_add_column_name_to_table_name.rb
class AddColumnNameToTableName < ActiveRecord::Migration[5.2]
  def change
    add_column :table_name, :column_name, :datatype # This will be automatically generated if migration name follows the form: "AddXXXToYYY"
                                                    # Otherwise, you can manually input.
  end
end

# Practical Example:

# db/migrate/[timestamp]_add_email_to_comments.rb
class AddEmailToComments < ActiveRecord::Migration[5.2]
  def change
    add_column :comments, :email, :string # This will be automatically generated if migration name follows the form: "AddXXXToYYY"
                                          # Otherwise, you can manually input.      
  end
end

Run $ rails db:migrate.
Check database schema file (db/schema.rb) to confirm the new column was created.

Testing

References:Rails Guides: AR Validations, Shoulda-Matchers Docs

Create both a models and features sub-directory in the spec folder (e.g. spec/models/ and spec/features/).
- In general, model tests will test the relationships, validations, and logic of the model methods.
- In general, feature tests will test the display and functionality of the views.

Framework for a model test:

# Practical Example:

# spec/models/article_spec.rb
require 'rails_helper'

describe Article, type: :model do
  describe 'validations' do
    it { should validate_presence_of(:title) }
    it { should validate_presence_of(:body) }
  end
end

Framework for a feature test:

# Practical Example:

# spec/features/articles/index_spec.rb
require 'rails_helper'

RSpec.describe '/articles/index.html.erb', type: :feature do
  let!(article1) { Article.create!(title: 'Title 1', body: 'Body 1') }
  let!(article2) { Article.create!(title: 'Title 2', body: 'Body 2') }

  describe 'as a user' do
    describe 'when I visit the articles index' do
      it 'displays all the articles' do
        visit '/articles'

        expect(page).to have_content(article1.title)
        expect(page).to have_content(article2.title)
      end
    end
  end
end

Create Routes

Add code into config/routes.rb, such as one of the following examples,

# Practical Example:

# config/routes.rb
Rails.application.routes.draw do
  get '/articles/:id', to: 'articles#show'        # Example of a hand-rolled route
  resources :articles                             # Example using Rails resources to generate all RESTful routes
  resources :articles, only: [:index, :show]      # Example that only generates the specified routes
  resources :articles, except: [:destroy, :index] # Example that generates routes, except for the specified routes
end

Uses lower_snake_case for controller names in the routes if it more than one word (e.g. monster_trucks#show for a controller named MonsterTrucksController).

Seven RESTful routes (actions): index, new, create, show, edit, update, and destroy

Route	HTTP Verb	URI	Controller Action	Description
`get '/articles', to: "articles#index`	GET	/articles	index	Display a list of all `articles`
`get '/articles/new', to: "articles#new`	GET	/articles/new	new	Show form to make a new `article`
`post '/articles', to: "articles#create"`	POST	/articles	create	Add new `article` to the database, then redirect
`get '/articles/:id', to: "articles#show"`	GET	/articles/:id	show	Show information about a particular `article`
`get '/articles/:id/edit', to: "articles#edit"`	GET	/articles/:id/edit	edit	Show from to edit an existing `article`
`patch '/articles/:id', to: "articles#update"`	PATCH	/articles/:id	update	Update an existing `article`, then redirect
`delete '/articles/:id', to: "articles#destroy"`	DELETE	/articles/:id	destroy	Delete a particular `article`, then redirect

To display all routes in the rails application run:
```
$ rails routes
```

To display all routes for a specific controller in the rails application, run:

# Example Structure:

$ rails routes -c resource_name

# Practical Example:

$ rails routes -c articles

# Alternate Example:

$ rails routes -c Article

Create Controllers

Create a controller file (*_controller.rb) in app/controllers/ For example, to create a controller called ArticlesController, this should look like app/controllers/articles_controller.rb.

Add in the framework for a controller, for example

# Practical Example:

# app/controllers/articles_controller.rb
class ArticlesController < ApplicationController
end

Create Views

Create directory under app/views named after the controller (e.g. app/views/articles) and with a file for the view, (e.g. index.html.erb). This should look like app/views/articles/index.html.erb.

Rails Helpers

form_with

Reference: Rails Guides: Form Helpers

For a search:

<!-- Practical Example: -->

<%= form_with(url: '/search', method: 'get') do %>
  <%= label_tag(:q, 'Search for:') %>
  <%= text_field_tag(:q) %>
  <%= submit_tag("Search") %>
<% end %>

For a create, using a model url:

<!-- This example needs updating for the first line -->
<!-- Consider using the form with model helper -->

<!-- Practical Example: -->

<%= form_with url: path, local: true do |f| %>
  <%= f.label :name %>
  <%= f.text_field :name %>

  <%= f.label :breed %>
  <%= f.text_field :breed %>

  <%= f.label :age %>
  <%= f.number_field :age %>

  <%= f.submit %>
<% end %>

validates

References: Rails Guides: Validations, Shoulda-Matchers Docs

Use validates in the model.
For example:

# Practical Example:

# app/models/article.rb
class Article < ApplicationRecord
  validates :title, presence: true
  validates :body, presence: true

  # [...]
end

Use validates_presence_of in model tests.
For example:

# Practical Example:

# spec/models/article_spec.rb
require 'rails_helper'

describe Article, type: :model do
  # [...]
  describe 'validations' do
    it { should validate_presence_of(:title) }
    it { should validate_presence_of(:body) }
  end
  # [...]
end

link_to

Reference: Rails Guides: Path Helpers

Use path helper with verb (e.g. method: delete) if the path helper is ambiguous.
For example:

<!-- Practical Example: -->

<%= link_to "Delete", article_path(@article), method: :delete %>

cjsim89/rails_cheatsheet.md