Rails 5.2.3: Monkey patch update_all and update_columns to always include updated_at

application_record.rb

# app/models/application_record.rb

class ApplicationRecord < ActiveRecord::Base
  # Didn't change #update_column because it uses #update_columns under the hood.
  def update_columns(attrs)
    new_attrs = attrs.symbolize_keys
    new_attrs[:updated_at] ||= Time.current if self.class.column_names.include?('updated_at')
    super(new_attrs)
  end

end

core_extentions.rb

# config/initializers/core_extentions.rb

Dir[File.expand_path(File.join(File.dirname(File.absolute_path(__FILE__)), 'lib/core_extensions')) + "/**/*.rb"].each do |file|
  require file
end

ActiveRecord::Relation.prepend(CoreExtensions::ActiveRecord::CustomUpdateAll)

custom_update_all.rb

# lib/core_extensions/active_record/custom_update_all.rb

module CoreExtensions
  module ActiveRecord
    module CustomUpdateAll
      def update_all(updates)
        if updates.is_a?(Hash) && !updates.delete(:skip_touch)
          # Didn't do updates[:updated_at] ||= Time.current
          # because it changes the original updates hash
          super({ updated_at: Time.current, **updates.symbolize_keys })
        else
          super(updates)
        end
      end
    end
  end
end

Thank you for sharing your code. 😀

I have a question, Why did you symbolize updates? Is it necessary ?

@erados It's not necessary. Just generally prefer working with symbols everywhere instead of string keys 😄

Hi @timm-oh .

I hope you're doing well.
I'm reaching out again regarding the article I've been working on for Dev.to, which was inspired by your insightful code.
I'd like to request your permission to reference and discuss your code in the article.
Of course, I'll ensure full credit is given with a direct link to your work.
If you have any concerns or prefer that I don't include it, please let me know, and I'll respect your wishes.

Thanks again for your valuable sharing 🙂

Hey @erados :)

Yeah sure you can use it :)
Side note, @choncou is the original author of this.

Thanks! I will mention that too!

Thanks for this nice share 😄

You can make requiring core extensions a bit simpler, like this:

Dir[Rails.root.join("lib/core_extensions/**/*.rb")].sort.each do |file|
  require file
end