In this section, we will cover the essential steps and best practices for deploying a Ruby application, particularly focusing on Ruby on Rails applications. Deployment is the process of making your application available to users, typically by hosting it on a server. This involves several steps, including setting up the server, configuring the environment, and ensuring the application runs smoothly in a production setting.

1. Server Setup: Preparing the server environment to host your application.
2. Environment Configuration: Configuring the application to run in a production environment.
3. Database Setup: Ensuring the database is correctly configured and migrated.
4. Application Deployment: Deploying the application code to the server.
5. Monitoring and Maintenance: Setting up monitoring and maintenance tasks to ensure the application runs smoothly.

Before deploying your application, you need to set up a server. Common choices include cloud providers like AWS, Heroku, DigitalOcean, and others.

Example: Setting Up a Server on DigitalOcean

1. Create a Droplet:

   • Log in to your DigitalOcean account.
   • Create a new Droplet (virtual server).
   • Choose an image (e.g., Ubuntu 20.04).
   • Select a plan based on your needs.
   • Add SSH keys for secure access.
   • Create the Droplet.

2. Access the Server:

   • Use SSH to connect to your server:

     ssh root@your_server_ip
     

Configure the server environment to run your Ruby on Rails application.

Example: Installing Required Software

1. Install Ruby:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install -y rbenv ruby-build
   rbenv install 3.0.0
   rbenv global 3.0.0
   

2. Install Rails:

   gem install rails -v 6.1.3
   

3. Install a Web Server (e.g., Nginx):

   sudo apt install -y nginx
   

4. Install a Database (e.g., PostgreSQL):

   sudo apt install -y postgresql postgresql-contrib
   

Ensure your database is correctly configured and migrated.

Example: Configuring PostgreSQL

1. Create a Database User:

   sudo -u postgres createuser -s your_username
   sudo -u postgres psql
   \password your_username
   

2. Create a Database:

   sudo -u postgres createdb your_database_name
   

3. Configure Rails Database Settings: Update config/database.yml with your database credentials.

4. Run Migrations:

   rails db:migrate RAILS_ENV=production
   

Deploy your application code to the server.

Example: Using Capistrano for Deployment

1. Add Capistrano to Your Gemfile:

   gem 'capistrano', '~> 3.14'
   gem 'capistrano-rails', '~> 1.6'
   gem 'capistrano-rbenv', '~> 2.2'
   gem 'capistrano-bundler', '~> 1.6'
   

2. Install Capistrano:

   bundle install
   bundle exec cap install
   

3. Configure Capistrano: Update config/deploy.rb and config/deploy/production.rb with your server details.

4. Deploy the Application:

   bundle exec cap production deploy
   

Set up monitoring and maintenance tasks to ensure your application runs smoothly.

Example: Using a Monitoring Tool

1. Install a Monitoring Tool (e.g., New Relic):

   • Sign up for a New Relic account.
   • Follow the instructions to install the New Relic agent in your Rails application.

2. Set Up Automated Backups:

   • Use a tool like pg_dump for PostgreSQL to create regular backups of your database.

3. Configure Log Rotation:

   • Use a tool like logrotate to manage your application logs.

1. Create a New Rails Application:

   rails new myapp
   cd myapp
   

2. Initialize a Git Repository:

   git init
   git add .
   git commit -m "Initial commit"
   

3. Create a Heroku Application:

   heroku create
   

4. Deploy to Heroku:

   git push heroku master
   

5. Run Migrations:

   heroku run rails db:migrate
   

6. Open Your Application:

   heroku open
   

Follow the steps above to deploy your Rails application to Heroku. Ensure you have the Heroku CLI installed and are logged in to your Heroku account.

In this section, we covered the essential steps for deploying a Ruby on Rails application, including server setup, environment configuration, database setup, application deployment, and monitoring and maintenance. By following these steps, you can ensure your application is available to users and runs smoothly in a production environment. In the next module, we will focus on testing in Ruby to ensure your application is robust and reliable.