Database setup for production in Ruby on Rails - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the purpose of the config/database.yml file in a Rails production setup?

It defines the database connection settings for different environments, including production. This file tells Rails how to connect to the production database with details like adapter, host, username, password, and database name.

beginner

Why should you avoid using SQLite in a Rails production environment?

SQLite is designed for simple, local development and does not handle multiple users or heavy traffic well. Production environments usually use more robust databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL that support concurrency and scaling.

beginner

What command do you run to create the production database in Rails?

You run RAILS_ENV=production rails db:create to create the production database using the settings in config/database.yml.

beginner

How do you run migrations on the production database in Rails?

Use RAILS_ENV=production rails db:migrate. This applies all pending database changes to the production database.

intermediate

What is the role of environment variables in Rails production database setup?

Environment variables store sensitive info like database passwords outside the code. Rails can read these variables to keep secrets safe and allow easy changes without editing code files.

Which database adapter is commonly recommended for Rails production?

A MongoDB

B SQLite

C CSV files

D PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is a powerful, reliable database that works well with Rails in production.

What does RAILS_ENV=production rails db:create do?

A Creates the development database

B Creates the test database

C Creates the production database

D Deletes the production database

This command creates the production database using the production settings.

Where should you store your production database password in Rails?

A In environment variables

B Hardcoded in <code>database.yml</code>

C In a public GitHub repo

D In the app's JavaScript files

Environment variables keep sensitive info safe and separate from code.

Which command runs database migrations in production?

A RAILS_ENV=production rails db:migrate

B rails db:migrate

C rails db:rollback

D rails server

Adding RAILS_ENV=production runs migrations on the production database.

Why is SQLite not suitable for production in Rails?

A It is too fast

B It does not support multiple users well

C It requires internet connection

D It is not free

SQLite is designed for simple, local use and struggles with concurrent users.

Explain the steps to set up a production database in a Rails application.

Think about configuration, security, and commands.

Why is it important to separate production database credentials from your code in Rails?

Consider risks of hardcoding secrets.