My template for generating new rails apps

rails-app-template.rb

# Helpers

def git_update(message)
  git :add => ".", :commit => "-m '#{message}'"
end

def git_remove(file)
  git :rm => file
end

# Flags
devise_flag = yes?("Do you want to use Devise?")

if devise_flag
  devise_class = ask("What is the name of your Devise class? (i.e. 'User')") 
  devise_class_underscored = devise_class.underscore
end

# Git

say "Git setup", :yellow
append_file '.gitignore' do
<<-RUBY
.DS_Store
.autotest
.sass-cache
config/database.yml
log/*.log
coverage
*.pid
public/system
public/uploads
rerun.txt
capybara*.html
vendor/cache/*
RUBY
end

git :init
git_update "Initial commit with basic rails app"

# Crap

say "removing unneccessary files...", :yellow

git_remove 'public/index.html'
git_remove 'public/favicon.ico'
git_remove 'public/images/rails.png'
git_remove 'README'
run 'touch README.md'

git_update "Removed unneccessary files"

# RVMRC

say ".rvmrc setup", :yellow

rvm_lib_path = "#{`echo $rvm_path`.strip}/lib"
$LOAD_PATH.unshift(rvm_lib_path) unless $LOAD_PATH.include?(rvm_lib_path)
require 'rvm'

rvm_env = RVM::Environment.current

create_file ".rvmrc" do
  "rvm use #{rvm_env.environment_name} --create\nrvm wrapper #{rvm_env.environment_name} textmate"
end

git_update "Added .rvmrc"

# Gems

say "Gemfile setup", :yellow

remove_file "Gemfile"
create_file "Gemfile" do
<<-RUBY
source "http://rubygems.org"

# Essentials
gem 'mysql2', '0.2.6'
#{"gem 'devise'" if devise_flag}
gem 'simple_form'
gem 'responders'

# Frontend
gem 'jquery-rails'
gem 'haml-rails'
gem 'compass'
gem 'compass-colors'
gem 'settingslogic'

group :development do
  gem 'awesome_print'
  gem 'rails3-generators'
  # html2haml
  gem 'hpricot'
  gem 'ruby_parser'
end

group :development, :test do
  # deployment (in test group so that our CI can deploy on green)
  gem 'vlad'
  gem 'vlad-git'
  gem 'vlad-extras'
  # for generating seeds we also need these in the development group
  gem 'factory_girl_rails', :require => nil
  gem 'faker'
end

group :test do
  gem 'rspec'
  gem 'rspec-rails'
  gem 'cucumber-rails'
  gem 'fuubar'
  gem 'fuubar-cucumber'
  gem 'spork', '~> 0.9.0.rc4'
  gem 'infinity_test'
  gem 'launchy'
  gem 'pickle'
  gem 'capybara'
  gem 'database_cleaner'
end
RUBY
end

run 'bundle install'

git_update "Added some gems"

# Gem setup

say "Vlad setup", :yellow

create_file "config/deploy.rb" do
<<-RUBY
# If Vlad does not find some commands, try the following:
#
# To enable per user PATH environments for ssh logins you
# need to add to your sshd_config:
# PermitUserEnvironment yes
#
# After that, restart sshd!
#
# Then in your "users" ssh home directory (~/.ssh/environment),
# add something to this effect (your mileage will vary):
# PATH=/opt/ruby-1.8.7/bin:/usr/local/bin:/bin:/usr/bin
#
# For details on that, see:
# http://zerobearing.com/2009/04/27/capistrano-rake-command-not-found
#
# Maybe you also need to configure SSH Agent Forwarding:
#
# $ ssh-add ~/.ssh/<private_keyname>
#
# Edit your ~/.ssh/config file and add something like this:
# Host <name>
#   HostName <ip or host>
#   User <username>
#   IdentityFile ~/.ssh/<filename>
#   ForwardAgent yes
#
# For details on that, see:
# http://jordanelver.co.uk/articles/2008/07/10/rails-deployment-with-git-vlad-and-ssh-agent-forwarding/

set :user, "deploy"
set :application, "webapplication"
set :domain, "\#{application}.com"
set :deploy_to, "/var/www/\#{application}"
set :repository, "PLEASE_SET_THE_REPOSITORY_LOCATION"
# Revision defaults to master
# set :revision, "origin/develop"
set :web_command, "/etc/init.d/nginx"
set :symlinks, { 'config/database.yml' => 'config/database.yml' }

role :app, domain
role :web, domain
role :db,  domain, :primary => true

require 'bundler/vlad'

namespace :vlad do
  desc "Full deployment cycle: Update, install bundle, migrate, restart, cleanup"
  remote_task :deploy, :roles => :app do
    %w(update symlink bundle:install migrate start_app cleanup).each do |task|
      Rake::Task["vlad:\#{task}"].invoke
    end
  end
end
RUBY
end

inject_into_file "Rakefile", :after => "require 'rake'\n" do
<<-RUBY

begin
  require 'vlad'
  require 'vlad-extras'
  Vlad.load(:scm => :git, :web => :nginx, :app => :passenger, :type => :rails)
rescue LoadError
  puts 'Could not load Vlad'
end
RUBY
end

git_update "Setup vlad"

say "Settingslogic setup", :yellow

create_file "app/models/settings.rb" do
<<-RUBY
class Settings < Settingslogic
  source "\#{Rails.root}/config/application.yml"
  namespace Rails.env
end
RUBY
end

create_file "config/application.yml" do
<<-RUBY
defaults: &defaults
  app_name: 'Web Application'

development:
  <<: *defaults

test:
  <<: *defaults

production:
  <<: *defaults
RUBY
end

git_update "Setup settingslogic"

say "jQuery setup", :yellow
generate 'jquery:install'
git_update "Setup jquery"

say "compass setup", :yellow
run "compass init rails ."
git_update "Setup compass"

say "responders setup", :yellow
generate "responders:install"
git_update "Setup responsers"

say "simple_form setup", :yellow
generate "simple_form:install"
git_update "Setup simple_form"

say "RSpec setup", :yellow
generate 'rspec:install'
append_file ".rspec" do
<<-RUBY
--format Fuubar
--tty
--drb
RUBY
end

git_update "Setup rspec"

say "Cucumber setup", :yellow
generate 'cucumber:install', '--rspec --capybara --spork'
gsub_file 'config/cucumber.yml', /'progress'/, "'Cucumber::Formatter::Fuubar'"
gsub_file 'features/support/env.rb', /require 'rubygems'\n/, ""
inject_into_file "features/support/env.rb", :after => "Spork.each_run do\n" do
<<-RUBY
  require 'factory_girl_rails'
RUBY
end

git_update "Setup cucumber"

say "Pickle setup", :yellow
generate 'pickle --paths --email'
git_update "Setup pickle"

say "Spork setup", :yellow
run 'spork rspec --bootstrap'
gsub_file 'spec/spec_helper.rb', /require 'rubygems'\n/, ""
inject_into_file "spec/spec_helper.rb", :after => "# This code will be run each time you run your specs.\n" do
<<-RUBY
  require 'factory_girl_rails'
RUBY
end

rspec_setup = %q{
  ENV["RAILS_ENV"] ||= 'test'
  require File.expand_path("../../config/environment", __FILE__)
  require 'rspec/rails'
  
  # Requires supporting ruby files with custom matchers and macros, etc,
  # in spec/support/ and its subdirectories.
  Dir[Rails.root.join("spec/support/**/*.rb")].each {|f| require f}
  
  RSpec.configure do |config|
    # == Mock Framework
    #
    # If you prefer to use mocha, flexmock or RR, uncomment the appropriate line:
    #
    # config.mock_with :mocha
    # config.mock_with :flexmock
    # config.mock_with :rr
    config.mock_with :rspec
  
    # Remove this line if you're not using ActiveRecord or ActiveRecord fixtures
    config.fixture_path = "#{::Rails.root}/spec/fixtures"
  
    # If you're not using ActiveRecord, or you'd prefer not to run each of your
    # examples within a transaction, remove the following line or assign false
    # instead of true.
    config.use_transactional_fixtures = true
  end
}

# Remove instructions
gsub_file 'spec/spec_helper.rb', /# --- Instructions ---.*# free to delete them\.\s+# This file is copied to spec\/ when you run 'rails generate rspec:install'/m, ''

# Move rest into prefork block
gsub_file 'spec/spec_helper.rb', /ENV\["RAILS_ENV"\] \|\|= 'test'(.*?)end/m, ''
gsub_file 'spec/spec_helper.rb', /Spork.prefork do(.*?)end/m, "Spork.prefork do#{rspec_setup}end"

git_update "Setup spork"

# Generators

initializer 'generators.rb', <<-RUBY
Rails.application.config.generators do |g|
  g.template_engine :haml
  g.test_framework :rspec
  g.fixture_replacement :factory_girl, :dir => "spec/factories"
  g.view_specs false
  g.helper_specs false
  g.routing_specs false
  g.controller_specs false
  g.stylesheets false
  g.helper false
  g.integration_tool false
end
RUBY

git_update "Added generators initializer"

# Database

say "Database setup", :yellow

database_config = "defaults: &defaults
  adapter: mysql2
  encoding: utf8
  reconnect: false
  pool: 5
  username: root
  password:
  socket:
    
development:
  <<: *defaults
  database: #{app_name}_development
  
test:
  <<: *defaults
  database: #{app_name}_test

production:
  <<: *defaults"

remove_file "config/database.yml"
create_file "config/database.yml", database_config
create_file "config/database.example.yml", database_config

run 'rake db:setup'

git_update "Setup database"

# Layout

devise_layout_stuff = ""

if devise_flag
devise_layout_stuff = <<-RUBY
      #account
        - if user_signed_in?
          = "\#{t('hello')} \#{current_#{devise_class_underscored}.email}"
          = link_to t('sign_out'), destroy_#{devise_class_underscored}_session_path
        - else
          = link_to t('sign_in'), new_#{devise_class_underscored}_session_path
          |
          = link_to t('sign_up'), new_#{devise_class_underscored}_registration_path
RUBY
end

create_file "app/views/layouts/application.html.haml", "!!!
%html
  %head
    %title= page_title
    = stylesheet_link_tag 'screen', :media => 'screen, projection'
    = stylesheet_link_tag 'print', :media => 'print'
    /[if IE]
      = stylesheet_link_tag 'ie', :media => 'screen, projection'
    = javascript_include_tag :defaults
    = csrf_meta_tag
    = yield(:head)
  %body
    %header
      %h1= yield :title
#{devise_layout_stuff}
    %nav
      = link_to 'Home', root_url
    %content
      = render :partial => 'shared/flash', :object => flash
      = yield
"

create_file "app/helpers/layout_helper.rb", %q{module LayoutHelper
  def title(page_title)
    content_for :title do
      page_title.to_s
    end
  end
  
  def page_title
    app_name = Settings.app_name
    content_for(:title).blank? ? app_name : "#{app_name} - #{content_for(:title)}"
  end
  
  def errors_for(*objects)
    render "shared/error_messages", :objects => objects.flatten
  end
end}

create_file "app/views/shared/_flash.html.haml", %q{- flash.each_pair do |key, value|
  %div{ :class => "flash #{key}" }= value}

create_file "app/views/shared/_error_messages.html.haml", %q{- errors = objects.sum { |object| object.errors.full_messages.map { |msg| msg } }
- if errors.any?
  #error_explanation
    %h2
      = pluralize(errors.count, "error")
      occured:
    %ul
      - errors.each do |msg|
        %li= msg}

git_remove "app/views/layouts/application.html.erb"
git_update "Added layout and helpers"

# Devise

if devise_flag
  
say "Devise setup", :yellow
generate 'devise:install'

puts "modifying environment configuration files for Devise..."
gsub_file 'config/environments/development.rb', /# Don't care if the mailer can't send/, '# ActionMailer'
gsub_file 'config/environments/development.rb', /config.action_mailer.raise_delivery_errors = false/ do
<<-RUBY
config.action_mailer.default_url_options = { :host => 'localhost:3000' }
  config.action_mailer.delivery_method = :smtp
  config.action_mailer.perform_deliveries = false
  config.action_mailer.raise_delivery_errors = true
  config.action_mailer.default :charset => "utf-8"
RUBY
end
gsub_file 'config/environments/production.rb', /config.i18n.fallbacks = true/ do
<<-RUBY
config.i18n.fallbacks = true

  # ActionMailer
  config.action_mailer.default_url_options = { :host => 'yourhost.com' }
  config.action_mailer.delivery_method = :smtp
  config.action_mailer.perform_deliveries = true
  config.action_mailer.raise_delivery_errors = false
  config.action_mailer.default :charset => "utf-8"
RUBY
end

git_update "Setup devise"

puts "creating a #{devise_class} model w/ added ame string, modifying routes for Devise..."
run "rails generate devise #{devise_class}"

gsub_file "app/models/#{devise_class_underscored}.rb", /attr_accessible :email, :password, :password_confirmation, :remember_me/ do
<<-RUBY
validates_uniqueness_of :email, :case_sensitive => false
  attr_accessible :email, :password, :password_confirmation, :remember_me
RUBY
end

run 'rake db:migrate'

git_update "Added #{devise_class} model"

end

# i18n

gsub_file 'config/application.rb', /# config.i18n.default_locale = :de/, "config.i18n.default_locale = :de"
gsub_file 'config/application.rb', /config.action_view.javascript_expansions[:defaults] = %w()/, "# config.action_view.javascript_expansions[:defaults] = %w()"

get "https://github.com/svenfuchs/rails-i18n/raw/master/rails/locale/de.yml", "config/locales/rails.de.yml"
get "https://gist.github.com/raw/848021/responders.de.yml", "config/locales/responders.de.yml"
get "https://gist.github.com/raw/848017/simple_form.de.yml", "config/locales/simple_form.de.yml"
get "https://gist.github.com/raw/848028/devise.de.yml", "config/locales/devise.de.yml" if devise_flag

git_remove 'config/locales/en.yml'

create_file "config/locales/app.de.yml" do
<<-RUBY
de:
  hello: "Hallo"
  show: "Anzeigen"
  back: "Zurück"
  save: "Speichern"
  edit: "Bearbeiten"
  create: "Anlegen"
  update: "Bearbeiten"
  destroy: "Löschen"
  confirm: "Sind Sie sicher?"
  # Layout
  sign_up: "Anmelden"
  sign_in: "Login"
  sign_out: "Logout"
RUBY
end

git_update "Setup locale"

# Homepage

say "Homepage setup", :yellow
generate(:controller, "pages index")
gsub_file 'config/routes.rb', /get \"pages\/index\"/, 'root :to => "pages#index"'

git_update "Added homepage"

# JavaScript

create_file 'public/javascripts/application.js' do
%q{var App = {
  init: function() {
    
  }
};

$(function() {
  App.init();
});
}
end

git_update "Added basic javascript application"

station

#!/usr/bin/env ruby

rvm_ruby = ARGV[0]
app_name = ARGV[1]
template = ARGV[2] || "https://gist.github.com/raw/848195/rails-app-template.rb"

unless rvm_ruby && app_name && template
  puts "\nYou need to:\n"
  puts "- specify which rvm ruby to use\n" unless rvm_ruby
  puts "- specify the name of your app\n" unless app_name
  puts "\n"
  exit
end

rvm_lib_path = "#{`echo $rvm_path`.strip}/lib"
$LOAD_PATH.unshift(rvm_lib_path) unless $LOAD_PATH.include?(rvm_lib_path)
require 'rvm'

@env = RVM::Environment.new(rvm_ruby)

puts "Creating gemset #{app_name} in #{rvm_ruby}"
@env.gemset_create(app_name)
@env = RVM::Environment.new("#{rvm_ruby}@#{app_name}")

puts "Installing bundler and rails."
puts "Successfully installed bundler" if @env.system("gem", "install", "bundler")
puts "Successfully installed rails" if @env.system("gem", "install", "rails")

system("rvm #{rvm_ruby}@#{app_name} exec rails new #{app_name} -JT -d mysql -m #{template}")

This is the template I use for generating new rails applications. It contains stuff I copied from various other templates all over the places. There is also a shell script for wrapping it all up in a rvm gemset, which was inspired by this great blog post: http://blog.madebydna.com/all/code/2010/10/11/cooking-up-a-custom-rails3-template.html

This is great stuff! Thanks!