Rails Workshop Developer Setup

gistfile1.txt

Development Setup
=================

So you want to be a Rails developer? Or at least mess around with it? Here's how I'd setup a new machine.

I use OS X, and as such can offer the best support for that environment. I have some limited experience developing on Linux, but since it's a similar to OS X I can offer some good help there.

I have no development experience in Windows, but I do know that it's not as well supported as Unix environments are. I may be able to offer some help here and there, but you're going to mainly be on your own if many issues arise.

OS X
----

1. Download & Install XCode from the Mac App Store, if you're on Lion. Otherwise, 
2. Install [Homebrew](http://mxcl.github.com/homebrew/) by running the following command in Terminal.app

    /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/gist/323731)"

3. Install git via Homebrew

    brew install git

3. Install [RVM](https://rvm.beginrescueend.com/) by running the following

    bash < <(curl -s https://raw.github.com/wayneeseguin/rvm/master/binscripts/rvm-installer)

4. Install Ruby 1.9.2 via RVM and set it as your default Ruby

    rvm install 1.9.2
    rvm use 1.9.2 --default

5. Install the standard gems `gem install bundler rails`

6. Now you're good to go. This is the standard environment of most Rails developers, including myself.

Linux
-----

1. Install Ruby & other library that are normally used for Rails development

    sudo apt-get install ri ruby ruby1.8 ruby-dev rake libruby1.8 \
    zlib1g-dev libssl-dev libreadline5-dev libncurses5-dev \
    build-essential curl git-core git-gui gitk libxml2 libxml2-dev \
    libxslt1-dev bison autoconf

2. Install [RVM](https://rvm.beginrescueend.com/) by running the following

    bash < <(curl -s https://raw.github.com/wayneeseguin/rvm/master/binscripts/rvm-installer)

3. Install Ruby 1.9.2 via RVM and set it as your default Ruby

    rvm install 1.9.2
    rvm use 1.9.2 --default

4. Install the standard gems `gem install bundler rails`


Windows
-------

I'd highly recommend setting up a Unix environment for development as it is much better suited the various open source tools that you use as a developer. However, if you are unable or unwilling to do so, I've heard fantastic things about [The Rails Installer](http://railsinstaller.org/).