Unlock the Power of React and Ruby on Rails
The world of frontend development has undergone a significant transformation over the past eight years. The rise of JavaScript frameworks like React has revolutionized the way we build highly interactive applications. In this article, we’ll explore the best ways to combine React with Ruby on Rails, unlocking a new level of complexity and sophistication in your app development.
Two Approaches to Integrating React with Ruby on Rails
There are two primary methods to integrate React with Ruby on Rails: building two separate apps that communicate via an API or having both apps in one repository, running side by side. We’ll focus on the latter approach, which is more common and challenging.
Getting Started with React and Ruby on Rails
Before we dive in, make sure you have the following tools installed on your machine:
- Ruby
- SQLite3 (pre-installed on many UNIX-based machines)
- Node.js and Yarn (Rails uses Yarn as the package manager)
- Rails (install with
gem install rails)
You should also have a working knowledge of React and JavaScript.
Creating a New Rails App with React
To set up React and Rails simultaneously, use the following command:
rails new myapp --webpack=react
This will install React alongside Rails. After installation, open the new project in your editor. The packs folder should contain the necessary files.
Adding React to an Existing Rails App
If you already have an existing Rails app, installing React is just as easy. Run the following command to set up React using Webpacker:
rails webpacker:install:react
React is now set up in your application, and you’re ready to start development.
Migrating the Rails Frontend to React
If you want to migrate your existing Rails frontend to React, create a new controller and layout for easier migration. Run the following command:
rails generate controller Spa
This creates a spa_controller.rb file and a view file in views/spa/index.html.erb. Update the spa_controller.rb file with the necessary code, and set up a new route matcher in config/routes.rb to use the spa layout to render the React frontend.
Adding React to a Specific Rails Page
If you want to use React on specific pages only, create a new JSX file in app/javascript/packs/. Add the necessary code to the file, and then add the pack tag in the Rails view file where you want React.
The Benefits of Using React with Ruby on Rails
By combining React with Ruby on Rails, you can build powerful, modern frontend applications faster. You can also write unit tests for your React components, making development more efficient.
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