Create a simple Rails 3 text helper Gem -

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• how extract rails view helpers gem? 3 answers

i've been working on first rails 3 plugin, package simple helper function having in applicationhelper of apps. can see whole code on github.

here's first attempt:

## lib/semantic_id.rb ##  require 'semantic_id/version'  module ::actionview::helpers::texthelper    def semantic_id     string = string.new      case     when controller.action_name =~ /new|edit/       string += controller.action_name + "_"     when controller.action_name =~ /index|create/       string += controller.controller_name     else       string += controller.controller_name.singularize     end      string += "_view"   end  end 

now, works, understand not 'rails 3 way' of extending activesupport or other rails module. haven't been able find documentation on how you're "supposed" build rails 3 gem. tried following rails guide, method given there adding helpers didn't work, or else missing something.

my question is: given code above example of functionality i'm looking for, how turn rails 3 plugin gem?

thanks!

the problem you've done you've bound gem's functionality actionview. better make more generic.

to fix should package code in own module , inject module view environment. example, put helper own module (and file):

# lib/semantic_id/helper.rb  module semanticid   module helper     def semantic_id       ...     end   end end 

then add actionview using railtie:

# lib/semantic_id.rb  require 'semantic_id/helper'  activesupport.on_load(:action_view)   include semanticid::helper end 

you want separate functional part of helper part inserts framework. method contains rails-specific code, if didn't technique allow use sinatra , other frameworks well.

in general, guts of project should in lib/<project_name>/*.rb, , lib/<project_name>.rb should make functionality accessible.