IRB config to include some cool command-line tools

.irbrc

IRB.conf[:AUTO_INDENT] = true
IRB.conf[:USE_READLINE] = true

require 'rubygems'

def suggest(lib)
  begin
    require lib
    yield if block_given?
  rescue LoadError
    puts "#{lib} not available."
  end
end

# colored command output, persistent history
suggest 'wirble' do
  Wirble.init
  Wirble.colorize
end

# awesome_print
suggest 'ap'

# Nice tables for rails models
suggest 'hirb' do
  Hirb.enable
  def t(objects)
    puts Hirb::Helpers::AutoTable.render(objects)
  end
end

# lp command for method lookups
suggest 'looksee/shortcuts'

# Brilliant tab completion
suggest 'bond' do
  Bond.start
end

Gemfile

gem "wirble"
gem "hirb"
gem "awesome_print"
gem "bond"
gem "looksee" # only works on ruby 1.8.x

Usage.md

Cool IRB tools

Install

Copy the .irbrc file into your homedir, and include the Gemfile snippet into any rails project you want the tools to be available in.

Gems used

Pretty much all of the ones from the irb section in the ruby-toolbox ;). Look there for more examples and docs.

Try these in IRB:

>> ap Post # works on ActiveRecord model classes
>> ap Post.all # and collections
>> t Post.all # for a nice readable table
>> po Post.first # show available methods
>> ap po Post.first # show available methods and where they come from
>> Post.create :desc<TAB> # autocomplete activerecord column names, everywhere
>> {:foo => 1, :bar => 2, :boing => 3}[:bo<TAB> # complete hash keys