How to include a specific Rails method (or file) in a non-Rails Ruby project?

Question

I would like to use the distance_of_time_in_words method in the date_helper.rb Rails file (see on Github) in an non-Rails Ruby project.

How can I include it? It requires other files, so how to include them?

I don't want to include all of Rails because that would slow down the development process.

Ruby 1.9.3

halfelf · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-09 04:14:23Z

3

This method, distance_of_time_in_words is in actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/date_helper.rb. So you should require 'action_view' and action_view/helpers to load this method. And the method is defined in module ActionView::Helpers::DateHelper, you can include it in your class. The method is an instance method.

require 'action_view'
require 'action_view/helpers'

class Klass
    include ActionView::Helpers::DateHelper
end

c = Klass.new
c.distance_of_time_in_words( ...... )

edited Jun 9, 2019 at 4:14

answered Sep 7, 2012 at 2:45

halfelf

10.2k13 gold badges60 silver badges69 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

B Seven Over a year ago

That's very helpful. I think the best answer is to include the required files without including Rails. But I gather that your answer uses the Rails gem.

Joshua Cheek · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-07 05:19:21Z

2

If this is the only thing you want from it, then I'd just go take the source code and hack it to remove the dependencies (which appears to just be some I18n translations. To support the hack, you can probably translate this test suite.

Why would I do this instead of using the gem? Because it's just such an enormous dependency. It's so enormous that you actually notice it loading all that code. I'd rather rip out the method and hack it to work than depend on all of that (again, assuming this is the only thing you want from the lib).

answered Sep 7, 2012 at 5:19

Joshua Cheek

32.1k18 gold badges80 silver badges84 bronze badges

1 Comment

B Seven Over a year ago

That probably makes sense in this case because if is easy to remove the dependencies. But in general it might be more practical to include the required files.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to include a specific Rails method (or file) in a non-Rails Ruby project?

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related