Master Ruby on Rails: 10 Advanced Features for Faster, Safer Apps

Want to build robust and efficient Ruby on Rails applications? Even seasoned developers can benefit from exploring the framework's lesser-known capabilities. This guide dives into advanced Rails features that can speed up development, enhance security, and improve your app's overall performance.

Table of Contents:

• Boost Performance with Strict Loading
• Speed Up Requests with Asynchronous Queries
• Scale Effortlessly with Multi-Database Connections
• Simplify Associations with Delegated Types
• Secure Data with Active Record Encryption
• Enhance Flexibility with Attributes API
• Build Real-Time Features with Turbo Streams
• Protect Your App with Built-In Rate Limiting
• Ensure Compatibility with Browser Version Guard
• Create PWAs Easily with Out-of-the-Box Files

1. Boost Performance with Strict Loading

N+1 queries can cripple your Rails application. Strict loading identifies these performance bottlenecks early in development, not in production. The strict_loading_by_default setting automatically raises an error whenever an association is lazy-loaded, forcing you to optimize your queries upfront.

class Article < ApplicationRecord
  strict_loading_by_default
end

2. Speed Up Requests with Asynchronous Queries

Offload time-consuming database queries to a background pool, keeping your requests responsive. Asynchronous queries allow your application to continue processing while the database fetches data in the background. Use load_async to queue queries for later execution, retrieving records from memory when needed.

posts = Post.published.order(created_at: :desc).load_async
authors = Author.popular.limit(10).load_async

When you call posts.each, the records are readily available, significantly reducing response times.

3. Scale Effortlessly with Multi-Database Connections

Rails simplifies managing multiple databases for read replicas or horizontal sharding. Multi-database connection switching provides first-class support for directing traffic to read replicas and routing data across shards. Easily define connections for different roles or shards to improve scalability and performance.

AnimalsRecord.connected_to(role: :reading) { Report.last }
TenantsRecord.connected_to(shard: :europe) do
  Invoice.create!(...)
end

4. Simplify Associations with Delegated Types

Tired of messy STI (Single Table Inheritance) or polymorphic associations? Delegated types offer a cleaner and more efficient alternative. This feature streamlines associations, making your code easier to understand and maintain.

class Entry < ApplicationRecord
  delegated_type :entryable, types: %w[Post Comment]
end

Entry.first.entryable directly returns the associated model (Post or Comment) without requiring casting or multi-table joins.

5. Secure Data with Active Record Encryption

Protect sensitive data using Active Record Encryption, a built-in Rails 7 feature. Encrypt specific attributes with transparent encryption, safeguarding data at the application level.

class User < ApplicationRecord
  encrypts :ssn, deterministic: true
end

Rails handles key rotation, blind-index search, and log filtering, eliminating the need for external gems. This integrated solution simplifies data protection.

6. Enhance Flexibility with Attributes API

The Attributes API allows you to cast data to custom Ruby objects without relying on virtual attribute hacks. Transform raw data into meaningful objects seamlessly. The Attributes API in Ruby on Rails allows you to map database columns to custom data types, providing greater flexibility and control over your application's data model.

class MoneyType < ActiveModel::Type::Integer
  def serialize(value) = (value.to_f * 100).to_i
  def deserialize(value) = value.to_i / 100.0
end

class Product < ApplicationRecord
  attribute :price, MoneyType.new
end

Validations, serializers, and forms treat price as a float, while the database stores it as cents.

7. Build Real-Time Features with Turbo Streams

Implement real-time UI updates with minimal code using Turbo-Stream broadcasting from models. This feature simplifies the process of pushing updates to connected browsers whenever a model changes.

class Message < ApplicationRecord
  after_create_commit -> { broadcast_append_to :chat }
end

Every new message pushes a <turbo-stream> fragment to subscribed browsers, eliminating the need for controller code or JavaScript.

8. Protect Your App with Built-In Rate Limiting

Rails 7.2 includes built-in rate limiting, offering a straightforward way to protect your application from abuse. The Rate limiting in Ruby on Rails enhances security and resource management by controlling the frequency of requests a user or client can make within a specified timeframe. Define rate limits directly within your controllers.

class Api::SessionsController < ActionController::API
  rate_limit to: 10, within: 1.minute, only: :create
end

Exceeding the limit automatically returns an HTTP 429 error.

9. Ensure Compatibility with Browser Version Guard

Prevent users with outdated browsers from accessing your application using a declarative whitelist. Browser version guard offers a simple way to enforce browser compatibility, ensuring that your application functions correctly for supported browsers.

class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
  allow_browser safari: "16", chrome: "110", firefox: "112"
end

10. Create PWAs Easily with Out-of-the-Box Files

Quickly transform your Rails application into a Progressive Web App (PWA). Rails 7.2 generators include manifest and service worker templates under /pwa, streamlining the PWA setup process. With a few edits, you can create an installable, offline-capable PWA.

Conclusion

Exploring these advanced Ruby on Rails features can significantly enhance your development workflow and application performance. Leverage these tools to build faster, more secure, and scalable Rails applications.