How do you actually use rails on a shared server?

rubyonrails-talk
1

I've successfully installed rails on my windows machine however I have no idea how to use rails on a shared server that I have recently purchased. This is running rails on a linux box and it doesn't seem quite as simple as just uploading a bunch of data via ftp such as my application that I used on my windows which I created through the shell.

Do I have to use a shell on the linux box and create the application? Is it as simple as PHP where you just upload a file and the script is interpeted?

These things are really ailing me with ruby and discourage please help =). I want to get up and starting on working with rails on this linux box and code on my windows but it seems like I have execute a shell on the linux one, issue the command to create an application, download the application control files and then code. Is there any SIMPLE way? What do I do!

2

I'm in the same boat. My gut is that even though there are some very SEXY ways to deploy, on a rails enable server there must be a way to:

1) Upload the development tree of files 2) Create a .htaccess file somewhere appropriate to deal with all the rewrite stuff.

No?

I'd love to see some details on that. Yes, longer term I'm going to do things in a tidy manner but for now I need something quick and dirty.

Keith

3

I'm in the same boat. My gut is that even though there are some very SEXY ways to deploy, on a rails enable server there must be a way to:

1) Upload the development tree of files

Most web hosts support SSH and/or FTP.

2) Create a .htaccess file somewhere appropriate to deal with all the rewrite stuff.

All the Rails apps I've created came with their own .htaccess file.

No?

Yes?

I'd love to see some details on that. Yes, longer term I'm going to do things in a tidy manner but for now I need something quick and dirty.

Your specific deployment options will depend greatly on the particular web host you use. You might check out a few of them and see what you like best:

4

FWIW I had a shared hostiing account with one of the well known rails oriented providers. And it was a complete waste of my time.

I did get to learn about deployment steps, lighttpd, etc. But then the server kept falling over.

So I splashed out on a vps with a deployment gem and it's been a smooth ride ever since.

Not only is the server up, but my development practise is improving. I can deploy continually throughout the day and my clients love seeing changes to their "development" site.

The money spent on a decent bit of web space is well worth the time not spent farting about on a crappy shared environement.

My 2 bits..

5

Yes rails is installed. Do I have to use a shell just to start the creation of a rails application or can I upload tree files on my desktop to the server?

6

You can upload the files, but first you'll need to configure the environment. e.g. lighttpd / mongrel / ? and the apache proxying.

7

gah yeah I guess I have to do that. I have shell access but I can't seem to connect through putty--maybe it's my connection here at my school hence why I am checking if there's another way..

8

Can you flesh that out a little?

“splashed”

“vps”

“deployment gem”

I, too, would like to enjoy a smooth ride! :slight_smile:

9

smooth ride ever since. Can you flesh that out a little?

"splashed" "vps" "deployment gem"

Certainly, I'm using railsmachine.com.