rails-dev

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Ruby on Rails performance and maintainability optimization guidelines for building backend APIs and frontend web applications. This skill should be used when writing, reviewing, or refactoring Ruby on Rails code to ensure optimal patterns for controllers, models, ActiveRecord queries, caching, views, API design, security, and background jobs. Triggers on tasks involving Rails controllers, ActiveRecord queries, migrations, Turbo/Hotwire, API endpoints, background jobs, or Rails performance improvements.

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Sourcepproenca/dot-skills

Added on2026-02-14

NPX Install

npx skill4agent add pproenca/dot-skills rails-dev

SKILL.md Content

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Community Ruby on Rails Development Best Practices

Comprehensive performance and maintainability optimization guide for Ruby on Rails applications, maintained by Community. Contains 45 rules across 8 categories, prioritized by impact to guide automated refactoring and code generation.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

Writing new Rails controllers, models, or views
Optimizing ActiveRecord queries and database access patterns
Implementing caching strategies (fragment, Russian doll, low-level)
Building or refactoring API endpoints
Adding Turbo Frames and Streams for interactive UIs
Reviewing code for N+1 queries and security vulnerabilities
Designing background jobs with Sidekiq or Active Job
Writing or reviewing database migrations

Rule Categories by Priority


db-
ctrl-
sec-
model-
cache-
view-
api-
job-

Priority	Category	Impact	Prefix
1	Database & ActiveRecord	CRITICAL	`db-`
2	Controllers & Routing	CRITICAL	`ctrl-`
3	Security	HIGH	`sec-`
4	Models & Business Logic	HIGH	`model-`
5	Caching & Performance	HIGH	`cache-`
6	Views & Frontend	MEDIUM-HIGH	`view-`
7	API Design	MEDIUM	`api-`
8	Background Jobs & Async	LOW-MEDIUM	`job-`

Quick Reference

1. Database & ActiveRecord (CRITICAL)

```
db-eager-load-associations
```
- Eager load associations to eliminate N+1 queries
```
db-add-database-indexes
```
- Add database indexes on queried columns
```
db-select-specific-columns
```
- Select only needed columns
```
db-batch-processing
```
- Use find_each for large dataset iteration
```
db-avoid-queries-in-loops
```
- Avoid database queries inside loops
```
db-use-scopes
```
- Define reusable query scopes on models
```
db-safe-migrations
```
- Write reversible zero-downtime migrations
```
db-exists-over-count
```
- Use exists? instead of count for existence checks

2. Controllers & Routing (CRITICAL)

```
ctrl-thin-controllers
```
- Keep controllers thin by delegating to models and services
```
ctrl-strong-params
```
- Always use strong parameters for mass assignment
```
ctrl-restful-routes
```
- Follow RESTful routing conventions
```
ctrl-before-action-scoping
```
- Scope before_action callbacks with only/except
```
ctrl-respond-to-format
```
- Use respond_to for multi-format responses
```
ctrl-rescue-from
```
- Handle errors with rescue_from in controllers

3. Security (HIGH)

```
sec-parameterized-queries
```
- Never interpolate user input in SQL
```
sec-strong-params-whitelist
```
- Whitelist permitted params, never blacklist
```
sec-authenticate-before-authorize
```
- Authenticate before authorize on every request
```
sec-csrf-protection
```
- Enable CSRF protection for all form submissions
```
sec-scope-queries-to-user
```
- Scope queries to current user for authorization

4. Models & Business Logic (HIGH)

```
model-validate-at-model-level
```
- Validate data at the model level
```
model-avoid-callback-side-effects
```
- Avoid side effects in model callbacks
```
model-use-service-objects
```
- Extract complex logic into service objects
```
model-scope-over-class-methods
```
- Use scopes instead of class methods for query composition
```
model-use-enums
```
- Use enums for finite state fields
```
model-concerns-for-shared-behavior
```
- Use concerns for shared model behavior
```
model-query-objects
```
- Extract complex queries into query objects

5. Caching & Performance (HIGH)

```
cache-fragment-caching
```
- Use fragment caching for expensive view partials
```
cache-russian-doll
```
- Use Russian doll caching for nested collections
```
cache-low-level
```
- Use Rails.cache.fetch for computed data
```
cache-counter-cache
```
- Use counter caches for association counts
```
cache-conditional-get
```
- Use conditional GET with stale? for HTTP caching

6. Views & Frontend (MEDIUM-HIGH)

```
view-collection-rendering
```
- Use collection rendering instead of loop partials
```
view-turbo-frames
```
- Use Turbo Frames for partial page updates
```
view-turbo-streams
```
- Use Turbo Streams for real-time page mutations
```
view-form-with
```
- Use form_with instead of form_tag or form_for
```
view-avoid-logic-in-views
```
- Move display logic to helpers or presenters

7. API Design (MEDIUM)

```
api-serializers
```
- Use serializers for consistent JSON responses
```
api-pagination
```
- Always paginate collection endpoints
```
api-versioning
```
- Version APIs from day one
```
api-error-responses
```
- Return structured error responses
```
api-avoid-jbuilder-hot-paths
```
- Avoid Jbuilder on high-traffic endpoints

8. Background Jobs & Async (LOW-MEDIUM)

```
job-idempotent-design
```
- Design jobs to be idempotent
```
job-small-payloads
```
- Pass IDs to jobs, not serialized objects
```
job-error-handling
```
- Configure retry and error handling for jobs
```
job-unique-jobs
```
- Prevent duplicate job enqueuing

How to Use

Read individual reference files for detailed explanations and code examples:

Section definitions - Category structure and impact levels
Rule template - Template for adding new rules

Reference Files

File	Description
references/_sections.md	Category definitions and ordering
assets/templates/_template.md	Template for new rules
metadata.json	Version and reference information