asyraffff/Open-Source-Ruby-and-Rails-Apps - Detailed Review
1. Overview & GitHub Stats
- URL: https://github.com/asyraffff/Open-Source-Ruby-and-Rails-Apps
- Stars: 1153
2. Project Description
asyraffff/Open-Source-Ruby-and-Rails-Apps
is a meticulously curated collection of open-source applications built with Ruby and Ruby on Rails. This repository serves as a valuable resource hub for developers, students, and organizations looking to explore real-world Ruby/Rails implementations. The collection spans various categories including e-commerce platforms, content management systems, project management tools, and social networking applications.
The repository acts as both a learning resource and a practical reference for developers wanting to understand Rails patterns, architecture decisions, and best practices through examining production-ready applications.
3. What Software Does It Replace?
This collection provides open-source alternatives to various commercial software:
E-commerce Solutions:
- Shopify (with apps like Solidus/Spree-based implementations)
- BigCommerce alternatives
- Custom e-commerce platforms
Content Management:
- WordPress alternatives (Rails-based CMS solutions)
- Medium-like publishing platforms
- Custom blog engines
Project Management:
- Trello alternatives (Rails-based kanban boards)
- Basecamp-like project management tools
- Issue tracking systems
Social Networks:
- Basic social media platform alternatives
- Community forum software
- Discussion platforms
Business Applications:
- CRM systems
- ERP solutions
- Accounting software
4. Core Functionality
The repository itself doesn’t provide a single application but rather collects various open-source projects with diverse functionalities:
Collection Features:
- Categorized listing of Ruby/Rails applications
- Regular updates and new additions
- Quality filtering and vetting process
- Detailed project descriptions and links
Included Application Types:
- Full-stack web applications
- API-only Rails projects
- Monolithic applications
- Microservices architectures
- Modern Rails 7+ applications with Hotwire/Stimulus
- Legacy Rails applications for educational purposes
5. Pros and Cons
Pros
Comprehensive Collection:
- Wide variety of application types and complexity levels
- Regularly updated with new and relevant projects
- Includes both beginner-friendly and advanced applications
Educational Value:
- Excellent learning resource for Rails patterns
- Real-world code examples and architectures
- Opportunity to study different implementation approaches
Community Driven:
- Active maintenance and community contributions
- Quality control through star ratings and community feedback
- Helpful for finding inspiration and best practices
Practical Utility:
- Source for finding ready-to-use open-source solutions
- Base for starting new projects or features
- Reference for architectural decisions
Cons
Varied Quality:
- Application quality and maintenance status varies significantly
- Some projects may be outdated or abandoned
- Inconsistent coding standards across different projects
No Unified Installation:
- Each application has its own setup requirements
- No standardized deployment process
- Requires individual evaluation of each project
Maintenance Overhead:
- Keeping track of updates across multiple projects
- Potential security concerns with unmaintained projects
- Documentation quality varies between applications
6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-host)
Since this is a collection repository rather than a single application, here’s a general guide for working with Ruby on Rails applications from this collection:
Prerequisites
System Requirements:
- Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or newer
- 2GB RAM minimum (4GB recommended)
- 20GB free disk space
Required Software:
# Update systemsudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
# Install essential packagessudo apt install -y curl git build-essential libssl-dev libreadline-dev zlib1g-dev
# Install Ruby using rbenvgit clone https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv.git ~/.rbenvecho 'export PATH="$HOME/.rbenv/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrcecho 'eval "$(rbenv init -)"' >> ~/.bashrcsource ~/.bashrc
# Install ruby-build plugingit clone https://github.com/rbenv/ruby-build.git ~/.rbenv/plugins/ruby-build
# Install Ruby (latest stable version)rbenv install 3.2.2rbenv global 3.2.2
# Install Railsgem install rails -v 7.0.8
# Install Node.js and Yarn (for asset pipeline)curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -sudo apt install -y nodejsnpm install -g yarn
# Install PostgreSQL (common database choice)sudo apt install -y postgresql postgresql-contrib libpq-dev
Application Setup Process
1. Choose an Application:
# Browse the repository and choose an application# Clone your selected applicationgit clone [application-repository-url]cd [application-directory]
2. Database Setup:
# Create database user (if using PostgreSQL)sudo -u postgres createuser -s [your_username]sudo -u postgres psql -c "ALTER USER [your_username] WITH PASSWORD 'your_password';"
# Install dependenciesbundle installyarn install
# Setup databaserails db:createrails db:migraterails db:seed # if seed data is available
3. Environment Configuration:
# Copy environment templatecp .env.example .env# Edit .env file with your configurationnano .env
4. Test the Application:
# Run tests (if available)rails test
# Start development serverrails server
5. Production Deployment (Basic):
# Precompile assetsRAILS_ENV=production rails assets:precompile
# Set production databaseRAILS_ENV=production rails db:create db:migrate
# Start production server (using Puma)RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec puma
Docker Alternative (if available)
Many modern Rails applications include Docker support:
# If Dockerfile is presentdocker build -t rails-app .docker run -p 3000:3000 rails-app
# Or using docker-composedocker-compose up
Important Notes
- Always check the specific README of each application for unique requirements
- Review the application’s license before use in production
- Consider security implications and update dependencies regularly
- Monitor application logs and performance metrics in production
This collection provides excellent starting points for various projects, but each application requires individual evaluation and customization for production use.