what I used before finding enum in Rails

status.rb

# This module contains creates getter, setter, and scopes for each provided status.
# You must have a 'status:string' column on whatever table you are including this module on.
#
# Use in any model:
# include Status
#
# Then you must add a list of status names you wish to use for the model.
# statuses :open, :closed, :archived
#
# Including the module and a list of statuses (ie. 'open') will do the following:
# 1. create a getter method:
#   @resource.open?  # returns true if status == "open", false if not.
# 2. create a setter method:
#   @resource.open!  # sets the status of the resource to 'open' and saves (if changed).
# 3. create class method (to return all objects with status equal to the class method name):
#   Resource.open  # returns an ActiveRecord collection of Resources where status == 'open'

require 'active_support/concern'

module Status
  extend ActiveSupport::Concern

  def set_status!(str)
    self.status = str
    save if changed?
  end

  class_methods do
    def statuses(*args)
      scope :status_names, -> { args }
      args.each do |arg|
        # Create a scope that returns records with a status equal to the name of the scope
        scope arg, -> { where(status: arg.to_s) }
        # Create a method that checks if the status of a record is equal to the name of the method
        define_method [arg.to_s, '?'].join.to_sym do
          status == arg.to_s
        end
        # Create a method that sets the status of a record equal to the name of the method
        define_method [arg.to_s, '!'].join.to_sym do
          set_status!(arg)
        end
      end
    end
  end
end