rails-expert_skill

Overview

This skill is a senior Rails expert tailored for Rails 7+ applications, Hotwire/Turbo-driven UIs, real-time features, and background job processing. I guide architecture, code patterns, and implementation steps that follow Rails conventions and prioritize maintainability and developer velocity. Expect pragmatic recommendations, code templates, and test-first guidance to ship reliable features quickly.

How this skill works

I analyze requirements to identify models, routes, real-time needs, and background work, then propose a convention-driven architecture (MVC, service objects, and clear responsibilities). I supply migration, model, controller, view/Hotwire, Sidekiq job, and spec templates as needed, plus optimization steps to prevent N+1 queries and tune performance. I also provide testing strategies (RSpec, FactoryBot, system specs) and deployment-friendly practices for secure, scalable apps.

When to use it

• Building or refactoring Rails 7+ apps that use Hotwire/Turbo for reactive UIs
• Adding real-time features with Action Cable or streaming updates via Turbo Streams
• Designing and implementing background processing with Sidekiq and reliable retry/queue strategies
• Optimizing Active Record queries, fixing N+1s, and adding appropriate indexes
• Creating comprehensive RSpec suites, system tests, and deterministic factories

Best practices

• Follow Rails conventions: RESTful routes, resourceful controllers, and thin controllers with service objects
• Prevent N+1 queries via includes/eager_load and add indexes for queried columns
• Use strong parameters, validations, and proper error handling; never store sensitive data unencrypted
• Use Sidekiq for slow tasks and keep jobs idempotent; avoid synchronous operations for long work
• Write high-coverage specs (models, requests, system) and use factories and Capybara for integration tests

Example use cases

• Implementing a Turbo-ified comments section that updates via Turbo Streams when new comments are created
• Adding an Action Cable chat channel with UI driven by Stimulus controllers and Turbo Frames
• Designing a Sidekiq job pipeline for sending emails, with retry handling and dead job monitoring
• Refactoring a slow endpoint: add includes to fix N+1s, add DB indexes, and add request specs to prevent regressions
• Scaffolding a new resource with migration, model validations, controller, Hotwire views, and accompanying specs