aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/guides/source/initialization.md
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'guides/source/initialization.md')
-rw-r--r--guides/source/initialization.md279
1 files changed, 96 insertions, 183 deletions
diff --git a/guides/source/initialization.md b/guides/source/initialization.md
index c582acd3a3..fe6b1ad906 100644
--- a/guides/source/initialization.md
+++ b/guides/source/initialization.md
@@ -4,15 +4,20 @@ The Rails Initialization Process
This guide explains the internals of the initialization process in Rails
as of Rails 4. It is an extremely in-depth guide and recommended for advanced Rails developers.
-* Using `rails server`
+After reading this guide, you will know:
+
+* How to use `rails server`.
+* The timeline of Rails' initialization sequence.
+* Where different files are required by the boot sequence.
+* How the Rails::Server interface is defined and used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guide goes through every method call that is
required to boot up the Ruby on Rails stack for a default Rails 4
application, explaining each part in detail along the way. For this
-guide, we will be focusing on what happens when you execute +rails
-server+ to boot your app.
+guide, we will be focusing on what happens when you execute `rails server`
+to boot your app.
NOTE: Paths in this guide are relative to Rails or a Rails application unless otherwise specified.
@@ -24,128 +29,18 @@ quickly.
Launch!
-------
-A Rails application is usually started with the command `rails server`.
+Let's start to boot and initialize the app. It all begins with your app's
+`bin/rails` executable. A Rails application is usually started by running
+`rails console` or `rails server`.
### `bin/rails`
-The actual `rails` command is kept in _bin/rails_:
-
-```ruby
-#!/usr/bin/env ruby
-
-if File.exists?(File.join(File.expand_path('../../..', __FILE__), '.git'))
- railties_path = File.expand_path('../../lib', __FILE__)
- $:.unshift(railties_path)
-end
-require "rails/cli"
-```
-
-This file will first attempt to push the `railties/lib` directory if
-present, and then requires `rails/cli`.
-
-### `railties/lib/rails/cli.rb`
-
-This file looks like this:
-
-```ruby
-require 'rbconfig'
-require 'rails/script_rails_loader'
-
-# If we are inside a Rails application this method performs an exec and thus
-# the rest of this script is not run.
-Rails::ScriptRailsLoader.exec_script_rails!
-
-require 'rails/ruby_version_check'
-Signal.trap("INT") { puts; exit(1) }
-
-if ARGV.first == 'plugin'
- ARGV.shift
- require 'rails/commands/plugin_new'
-else
- require 'rails/commands/application'
-end
-```
-
-The `rbconfig` file from the Ruby standard library provides us with the `RbConfig` class which contains detailed information about the Ruby environment, including how Ruby was compiled. We can see this in use in `railties/lib/rails/script_rails_loader`.
-
-```ruby
-require 'pathname'
-
-module Rails
- module ScriptRailsLoader
- RUBY = File.join(*RbConfig::CONFIG.values_at("bindir", "ruby_install_name")) + RbConfig::CONFIG["EXEEXT"]
- SCRIPT_RAILS = File.join('script', 'rails')
- ...
-
- end
-end
-```
-
-The `rails/script_rails_loader` file uses `RbConfig::Config` to obtain the `bin_dir` and `ruby_install_name` values for the configuration which together form the path to the Ruby interpreter. The `RbConfig::CONFIG["EXEEXT"]` will suffix this path with ".exe" if the script is running on Windows. This constant is used later on in `exec_script_rails!`. As for the `SCRIPT_RAILS` constant, we'll see that when we get to the `in_rails_application?` method.
-
-Back in `rails/cli`, the next line is this:
-
-```ruby
-Rails::ScriptRailsLoader.exec_script_rails!
-```
-
-This method is defined in `rails/script_rails_loader`:
-
-```ruby
-def self.exec_script_rails!
- cwd = Dir.pwd
- return unless in_rails_application? || in_rails_application_subdirectory?
- exec RUBY, SCRIPT_RAILS, *ARGV if in_rails_application?
- Dir.chdir("..") do
- # Recurse in a chdir block: if the search fails we want to be sure
- # the application is generated in the original working directory.
- exec_script_rails! unless cwd == Dir.pwd
- end
-rescue SystemCallError
- # could not chdir, no problem just return
-end
-```
-
-This method will first check if the current working directory (`cwd`) is a Rails application or a subdirectory of one. This is determined by the `in_rails_application?` method:
-
-```ruby
-def self.in_rails_application?
- File.exists?(SCRIPT_RAILS)
-end
-```
-
-The `SCRIPT_RAILS` constant defined earlier is used here, with `File.exists?` checking for its presence in the current directory. If this method returns `false` then `in_rails_application_subdirectory?` will be used:
-
-```ruby
-def self.in_rails_application_subdirectory?(path = Pathname.new(Dir.pwd))
- File.exists?(File.join(path, SCRIPT_RAILS)) || !path.root? && in_rails_application_subdirectory?(path.parent)
-end
-```
-
-This climbs the directory tree until it reaches a path which contains a `script/rails` file. If a directory containing this file is reached then this line will run:
-
-```ruby
-exec RUBY, SCRIPT_RAILS, *ARGV if in_rails_application?
-```
-
-This is effectively the same as running `ruby script/rails [arguments]`, where `[arguments]` at this point in time is simply "server".
-
-Rails Initialization
---------------------
-
-Only now we finally start the real initialization process, beginning
-with `script/rails`.
-
-TIP: If you execute `script/rails` directly from your Rails app you will
-skip executing all the code that we've just described.
-
-### `script/rails`
-
This file is as follows:
```ruby
-APP_PATH = File.expand_path('../../config/application', __FILE__)
-require File.expand_path('../../config/boot', __FILE__)
+#!/usr/bin/env ruby
+APP_PATH = File.expand_path('../../config/application', __FILE__)
+require_relative '../config/boot'
require 'rails/commands'
```
@@ -165,37 +60,36 @@ require 'bundler/setup' if File.exists?(ENV['BUNDLE_GEMFILE'])
In a standard Rails application, there's a `Gemfile` which declares all
dependencies of the application. `config/boot.rb` sets
`ENV['BUNDLE_GEMFILE']` to the location of this file. If the Gemfile
-exists, `bundler/setup` is then required.
-
-The gems that a Rails 4 application depends on are as follows:
-
-TODO: change these when the Rails 4 release is near.
-
-* abstract (1.0.0)
-* actionmailer (4.0.0.beta)
-* actionpack (4.0.0.beta)
-* activemodel (4.0.0.beta)
-* activerecord (4.0.0.beta)
-* activesupport (4.0.0.beta)
-* arel (2.0.7)
-* builder (3.0.0)
-* bundler (1.0.6)
-* erubis (2.6.6)
-* i18n (0.5.0)
-* mail (2.2.12)
-* mime-types (1.16)
-* polyglot (0.3.1)
-* rack (1.2.1)
-* rack-cache (0.5.3)
-* rack-mount (0.6.13)
-* rack-test (0.5.6)
-* rails (4.0.0.beta)
-* railties (4.0.0.beta)
-* rake (0.8.7)
-* sqlite3-ruby (1.3.2)
-* thor (0.14.6)
-* treetop (1.4.9)
-* tzinfo (0.3.23)
+exists, then `bundler/setup` is required. The require is used by Bundler to
+configure the load path for your Gemfile's dependencies.
+
+A standard Rails application depends on several gems, specifically:
+
+* abstract
+* actionmailer
+* actionpack
+* activemodel
+* activerecord
+* activesupport
+* arel
+* builder
+* bundler
+* erubis
+* i18n
+* mail
+* mime-types
+* polyglot
+* rack
+* rack-cache
+* rack-mount
+* rack-test
+* rails
+* railties
+* rake
+* sqlite3-ruby
+* thor
+* treetop
+* tzinfo
### `rails/commands.rb`
@@ -224,22 +118,22 @@ If we used `s` rather than `server`, Rails will use the `aliases` defined in the
```ruby
when 'server'
- # Change to the application's path if there is no config.ru file in current dir.
- # This allows us to run script/rails server from other directories, but still get
+ # Change to the application's path if there is no config.ru file in current directory.
+ # This allows us to run `rails server` from other directories, but still get
# the main config.ru and properly set the tmp directory.
Dir.chdir(File.expand_path('../../', APP_PATH)) unless File.exists?(File.expand_path("config.ru"))
require 'rails/commands/server'
- Rails::Server.new.tap { |server|
+ Rails::Server.new.tap do |server|
# We need to require application after the server sets environment,
# otherwise the --environment option given to the server won't propagate.
require APP_PATH
Dir.chdir(Rails.application.root)
server.start
- }
+ end
```
-This file will change into the root of the directory (a path two directories back from `APP_PATH` which points at `config/application.rb`), but only if the `config.ru` file isn't found. This then requires `rails/commands/server` which sets up the `Rails::Server` class.
+This file will change into the Rails root directory (a path two directories up from `APP_PATH` which points at `config/application.rb`), but only if the `config.ru` file isn't found. This then requires `rails/commands/server` which sets up the `Rails::Server` class.
```ruby
require 'fileutils'
@@ -255,11 +149,11 @@ module Rails
### `actionpack/lib/action_dispatch.rb`
Action Dispatch is the routing component of the Rails framework.
-It adds functionalities like routing, session, and common middlewares.
+It adds functionality like routing, session, and common middlewares.
### `rails/commands/server.rb`
-The `Rails::Server` class is defined in this file as inheriting from `Rack::Server`. When `Rails::Server.new` is called, this calls the `initialize` method in `rails/commands/server.rb`:
+The `Rails::Server` class is defined in this file by inheriting from `Rack::Server`. When `Rails::Server.new` is called, this calls the `initialize` method in `rails/commands/server.rb`:
```ruby
def initialize(*)
@@ -323,12 +217,12 @@ With the `default_options` set to this:
```ruby
def default_options
{
- :environment => ENV['RACK_ENV'] || "development",
- :pid => nil,
- :Port => 9292,
- :Host => "0.0.0.0",
- :AccessLog => [],
- :config => "config.ru"
+ environment: ENV['RACK_ENV'] || "development",
+ pid: nil,
+ Port: 9292,
+ Host: "0.0.0.0",
+ AccessLog: [],
+ config: "config.ru"
}
end
```
@@ -361,9 +255,9 @@ set earlier) is required.
### `config/application`
-When `require APP_PATH` is executed, `config/application.rb` is loaded.
-This file exists in your app and it's free for you to change based
-on your needs.
+When `require APP_PATH` is executed, `config/application.rb` is loaded (recall
+that `APP_PATH` is defined in `bin/rails`). This file exists in your application
+and it's free for you to change based on your needs.
### `Rails::Server#start`
@@ -374,7 +268,7 @@ def start
url = "#{options[:SSLEnable] ? 'https' : 'http'}://#{options[:Host]}:#{options[:Port]}"
puts "=> Booting #{ActiveSupport::Inflector.demodulize(server)}"
puts "=> Rails #{Rails.version} application starting in #{Rails.env} on #{url}"
- puts "=> Call with -d to detach" unless options[:daemonize]
+ puts "=> Run `rails server -h` for more startup options"
trap(:INT) { exit }
puts "=> Ctrl-C to shutdown server" unless options[:daemonize]
@@ -456,7 +350,7 @@ end
The interesting part for a Rails app is the last line, `server.run`. Here we encounter the `wrapped_app` method again, which this time
we're going to explore more (even though it was executed before, and
-thus memorized by now).
+thus memoized by now).
```ruby
@wrapped_app ||= build_app app
@@ -483,7 +377,7 @@ The `options[:config]` value defaults to `config.ru` which contains this:
```ruby
# This file is used by Rack-based servers to start the application.
-require ::File.expand_path('../config/environment', __FILE__)
+require ::File.expand_path('../config/environment', __FILE__)
run <%= app_const %>
```
@@ -498,7 +392,7 @@ app = eval "Rack::Builder.new {( " + cfgfile + "\n )}.to_app",
The `initialize` method of `Rack::Builder` will take the block here and execute it within an instance of `Rack::Builder`. This is where the majority of the initialization process of Rails happens. The `require` line for `config/environment.rb` in `config.ru` is the first to run:
```ruby
-require ::File.expand_path('../config/environment', __FILE__)
+require ::File.expand_path('../config/environment', __FILE__)
```
### `config/environment.rb`
@@ -534,7 +428,7 @@ require "rails"
action_controller
action_mailer
rails/test_unit
- sprockets/rails
+ sprockets
).each do |framework|
begin
require "#{framework}/railtie"
@@ -549,14 +443,16 @@ inside each of those frameworks, but you're encouraged to try and
explore them on your own.
For now, just keep in mind that common functionality like Rails engines,
-I18n and Rails configuration is all being defined here.
+I18n and Rails configuration are all being defined here.
### Back to `config/environment.rb`
-When `config/application.rb` has finished loading Rails, and defined
-your application namespace, you go back to `config/environment.rb`,
-where your application is initialized. For example, if you application was called
-`Blog`, here you would find `Blog::Application.initialize!`, which is
+The rest of `config/application.rb` defines the configuration for the
+`Rails::Application` which will be used once the application is fully
+initialized. When `config/application.rb` has finished loading Rails and defined
+the application namespace, we go back to `config/environment.rb`,
+where the application is initialized. For example, if the application was called
+`Blog`, here we would find `Blog::Application.initialize!`, which is
defined in `rails/application.rb`
### `railties/lib/rails/application.rb`
@@ -572,14 +468,31 @@ def initialize!(group=:default) #:nodoc:
end
```
-As you can see, you can only initialize an app once. This is also where the initializers are run.
+As you can see, you can only initialize an app once. The initializers are run through
+the `run_initializers` method which is defined in `railties/lib/rails/initializable.rb`
+
+```ruby
+def run_initializers(group=:default, *args)
+ return if instance_variable_defined?(:@ran)
+ initializers.tsort_each do |initializer|
+ initializer.run(*args) if initializer.belongs_to?(group)
+ end
+ @ran = true
+end
+```
-TODO: review this
+The run_initializers code itself is tricky. What Rails is doing here is
+traversing all the class ancestors looking for those that respond to an
+`initializers` method. It then sorts the ancestors by name, and runs them.
+For example, the `Engine` class will make all the engines available by
+providing an `initializers` method on them.
-The initializers code itself is tricky. What Rails is doing here is it
-traverses all the class ancestors looking for an `initializers` method,
-sorting them and running them. For example, the `Engine` class will make
-all the engines available by providing the `initializers` method.
+The `Rails::Application` class, as defined in `railties/lib/rails/application.rb`
+defines `bootstrap`, `railtie`, and `finisher` initializers. The `bootstrap` initializers
+prepare the application (like initializing the logger) while the `finisher`
+initializers (like building the middleware stack) are run last. The `railtie`
+initializers are the initializers which have been defined on the `Rails::Application`
+itself and are run between the `bootstrap` and `finishers`.
After this is done we go back to `Rack::Server`
@@ -656,7 +569,7 @@ def self.run(app, options={})
else
server.register('/', Rack::Handler::Mongrel.new(app))
end
- yield server if block_given?
+ yield server if block_given?
server.run.join
end
```