Modelling followers

following.rb

class CreateUsers < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def change
    create_table :users do |t|
      t.string :name
      t.string :email
      t.timestamps null: false
    end
  end
end

class CreateFollowings < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def change
    create_table :followings do |t|
      t.integer :originator_id
      t.integer :target_id
    end
  end
end


class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_many :originated_followings, class_name: 'Following', foreign_key: :originator_id
  has_many :received_followings, class_name: 'Following', foreign_key: :target_id

  has_many :followed_people, through: :originated_followings, source: :target
  has_many :followers, through: :received_followings, source: :originator
end


class Following < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :originator, class_name: 'User', foreign_key: :originator_id
  belongs_to :target, class_name: 'User', foreign_key: :target_id
end