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Posted on • Edited on • Originally published at railsdesigner.com

New: Rails Development Tool

This articles was originally published on Rails Designer


Over the past 10+ years I have built quite a few web apps using Ruby on rails. One of the tools I've copied over and over again was one that let me:

  • fill forms, like log in forms with some predefined details
  • toggle the console for a quick lookup or to fire a Turbo Stream Broadcast
  • highlight all Turbo Frames and Stimulus Controllers
  • copy the actual resource's id (ie. the primary key, instead of using the public-facing id)

Preview of the Spinal Builder app highlighting the Stimulus Controllers

The initial version was pretty simple, but over the years I've changed it a bit. It is now using ViewComponent and Stimulus (based on the @github/hotkey package, similar to Rails Designers' GlobalHotkeyComponent.

Update: it is now using Plain Old Rails Helpers!

Now I can type:

  • d f; fill fields with the predefined values;
  • d s; fill fields and submit the form;
  • d c; toggle the console;
  • d t; toggle highlight all Turbo Frames;
  • d e; toggle highlight all Stimulus Controllers;
  • d x; copy current URL;
  • d r; copy the given resource's id (customizable, you can pass anything).

Image description

Image description

(view the original articles for the moving gifs! 👀)

The Rails Development Tool is now available to everyone. Packaged simply as a template, so you own the code and can simply change it, extend and break it!

Check it out and install it today.

UPDATE: I added the template to GitHub for easier collaboration.

Top comments (2)

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railsdesigner profile image
Rails Designer

Also: I am thinking of turning this tool into a Rails gem/engine. The cons of a gem is another dependency to keep up to date (in your app, but also as a maintainer). Pro is: invite us to help it improve it; which is trickier with the current packaging.

What do you think?

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railsdesigner profile image
Rails Designer

Got ideas for more features to add? Let me know! 👇