We are working on a ruby app for one of my CS classes, and found that it was easier to set up a virutal linux system than it was to try to get ruby working on windows (mainly because we don't have any stick time on that, and spinning the VM was cheaper).
The principle behind our decision to do this was that it's easier to get help from the community when you stick with the main focus of the community. See an app out there that is primarily linux, but you're a windows admin? It's easier for you to get help by installing and learning linux than it is to try to make it work under windows, even if this is a possibility. I've had to learn this the hard way at work, and it was much easier to move forward with the software when I finally bit the bullet and went all in on linux.
The argument against this goes something like: "we have experience in the company with 'blah' and this can be made to run on 'blah', so we'd like to leverage our existing expertise..." etc. Unless you're looking to become the pioneers in making it work, you're better off just sticking with the primary environment the software was built in.
The place this really matters is smaller companies. Most of you out there probably use windows for your day-to-day work, because it's familiar, but the software you'd like to use runs on linux, which you don't really know. If you're trying to avoid the cost of having it hosted (read "managed") by another company, learn linux.
I'm interested to know what others think of this, if they have experiences that are similar to mine, or if you think I'm nuts. (OK, you're right on that last part :-D ).
Here's what we did to get our ruby environment set up. If anyone has feedback on these instructions, I'm all ears. Have fun.
(it should be noted that the instructions below were used in conjunction with http://ruby.railstutorial.org/book. The part on bitbucket and heroku were based on having already published an app per that tutorial).
installing CentOS 6.3 on virtual box
===========
install virtual box
for windows: http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/4.2.6/VirtualBox-4.2.6-82870-Win.exe
for mac: http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/4.2.6/VirtualBox-4.2.6-82870-OSX.dmg
setup VM virtual box config
Create Virtual Machine
click new
name virtual system (ie: Centos6 x64)
if not already selected, select "Linux" and "Red Hat 64 bit"
click next
set for 1024 MB RAM
create a virtual hard drive now, click create
VDI, click next
Dynamically allocated, click next
set for 16GB, click create
click settings
Configure Network Connections
select "Network" in left tree
set as follows:
Adatper 1:
Enabled
Attached to: Bridged Adapter
Name: (your wired ethernet connection)
Adapter 2:
Enabled
Attached to: Bridged Adapter
Name: (you wireless ethernet connection)
Configure iso for install at boot
click settings
select "Storage" in left tree
select CD drive ("Empty") under Storage Tree on right
click CD icon at right of "IDE Secondary Master" drop down
select "Choose a virtual CD/DVD disk file"
find the CentOS6 DVD iso
click ok to confirm VM settings
config/install CentOS OS
start vm
click in vm screen to capture input
click enter to start install
once CentOS 6 logo loads, you can set one of the following:
right-CTRL+F = full screen
right-CTRL+C = scaled
(I find scaled set to full screen works the best)
proceed with install:
click next (3x)
basic storage device, click next
click "yes, discard any data" (this is for the virtual disk)
click configure network (lower left)
for each adapter:
double-click on name
select "connect automaticaly"
click "Apply"
click "close"
change hostname if desired (ie: centos6-dev)
time zone = America/Denver
uncheck "System clock uses UTC"
click next
set root password, click next
select "use all space", click next
click "write changes to disk"
select "Software Development Workstation"
click next (this starts installing packages)
let install run
reboot
click forward
"yes, I agree", click forward
create your user, click forward
check "Synchronize date and time over the network", click forward (allow ntp to start)
click ok when prompted by kdump
click finish
To open firefox:
click icon
To open Terminal:
Applications > System Tools > Terminal
set up sudo access and harden ssh login
$ su - root (enter root password when prompted)
allow wheel access to root via sudo
# visudo
arrow down to the "wheel" group
press [i]
for the line with %wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL, delete the # sign at the beginning
press [ESC][:][X][ENTER]
give yourself wheel group membership
# usermod -G wheel <username>
confirm
# id <username> wheel(10) should show up in the list of groups
change #PermitRootLogin yes to PermitRootLogin without-password
# vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config
arrow down and over
press [i]
use arrows, backspace and keys to change line
press [ESC][:][X][ENTER]
# service sshd restart
what this will do is allow you to log in and switch users as needed, and prevents someone from logging in as root unless they are using ssh keys
update the system
as root:
# yum -y update
as your user
$ sudo yum -y update
reboot
Install Eclipse Juno:
http://www.if-not-true-then-false.com/2010/linux-install-eclipse-on-fedora-centos-red-hat-rhel/
Install Eclipse plugins:
eclipse marketplace
aptana studio
dynamic languages toolkit - Ruby Development tools
dynamic languages toolkit - core framework
eclipse EGit
Eclipse JGit
eclipse web developer tools
Import the project:
download the repo from bitbucket
(this can be done from the terminal view in the eclipse web perspective)
$ cd ~/workspace
$ git clone https://$user_name@bitbucket.org/$user_name/$app_name.git
$ cd $app_name
$ git checkout master
Import the project to eclipse with this project:
choose ruby perspective
window > show view > project explorer
method 1 (may not work):
expand local filesystem, browse /path/to/git/advising_app
right-click on advising app, choose "Promote to project"
open App Explorer, and you should see the project
method 2 (known to work:
right click in project explorer, select import
select General > Existing Project into workspace
browse to advising_app folder
click check box by folder on left side
click finish
To open a CLI terminal in Eclipse:
From Web perspective, it will be in the bottom portion of your screen
From Ruby (or any other perspective):
Window menu > Show View > click Other > Studio > Terminal
If you would like a terminal editor (same place as files), click the bigger icon in the view
Some of the next steps might need to be run from a system terminal rather than an eclipse terminal, I can't remember which
Install Ruby on Rails environment
Install RVM:
$ \curl -L https://get.rvm.io | bash -s stable
Install Ruby, RubyGems, Rails, etc.
see section 1.2.2 of http://ruby.railstutorial.org/book
Install Heroku toolbelt:
$ wget -qO- https://toolbelt.heroku.com/install.sh | sh
$ cd ~/workspace/advising_app
$ heroku login
enter your heroku account credentials when prompted
