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Fast Tests
A slow test suite can put a damper on test-driven development. In this episode I show a variety of ways to optimize specs including: selective testing, preloading Rails, and testing outside of Rails.
(17 minutes)
Testing JavaScript with PhantomJS
PhantomJS allows us to test JavaScript without going through a browser window. Here I show how to do this using Capybara and Poltergeist. I also give some tips on handling database transactions and skipping javascript tests.
(10 minutes)
Fast Rails Commands
Rails commands, such as generators, migrations, and tests, have a tendency to be slow because they need to load the Rails app each time. Here I show three tools to make this faster: Zeus, Spring, and Commands.
(8 minutes)
Factories not Fixtures (revised)
Fixtures are external dependencies which can make tests brittle and difficult to read. In this episode I show how to use Factory Girl to generate the needed records directly in the tests.
(9 minutes)
Custom App Generators (revised)
Learn how to customize the Rails app generator to fit your preference. This episode shows how to do this using .railsrc file, app templates, app builders, RailsWizard, and AppScrolls.
(10 minutes)
Spork
Spork improves the loading time of your test suite by starting up your Rails application once in the background. Use it with Guard for the ultimate combo in fast feedback while doing TDD.
(9 minutes)
YAML Configuration (revised)
Keeping passwords and secret tokens in source control is a security risk. Here I show how to move these settings out into a YAML configuration file which can be loaded in as a hash or environment variables.
(8 minutes)
Migrating to PostgreSQL
Postgres is a feature-packed relational database that every Rails developer should consider using. Here you will learn how to install it, add it to a new application, and transition from an existing SQLite app using the "taps" gem.
(8 minutes)
Rack App from Scratch
Rack comes with many helpful utilities such as request and response objects, various middleware, and MockRequest for testing. Here I cover all of these while building a Rack app from scratch.
(15 minutes)
Exploring RubyGems
RubyGems can make it easy to add a feature to a Rails application, but it can also cause headaches down the road. Here I give some tips on researching gems to decide which one to choose, or when to do it from scratch.
(7 minutes)