Deploy Like A Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide for Ruby on Rails Application

How do you feel dealing with the infinite challenges of Ruby on Rails application downtime along with inconsistent uptime? Not to forget the rising server resource cost, management fees, and troubles associated with the software updates are terribly frustrating, isn’t it?

That is why successful hosting of your Ruby app without problems becomes necessary, which ensures the uninterrupted performance of your application by successfully managing the hosting of this app, effectively streamlining resource allocation, and utilizing dynamic maintenance techniques.

All these problems can be solved with the effective implementation of the steps given in this article while keeping the hosting setup of your Ruby app reliable as well as economical. Leveraging our experience in the development of a web application with Ruby on Rails, MilesWeb has fostered an international customer base from various industries. Businesses rely on our experience to avail maximum efficiency for their Ruby on Rails application by optimizing the Rails hosting service.

In this blog, we will present some key insights necessary to get through the critical aspects of Rails hosting. Of course, you’ll also find learning opportunities on different deployment strategies and, above all, be able to stay aware of best practices to monitor a Ruby on Rails application post-deployment.

Ruby on Rails Application Architecture

Ruby on Rails Application: Pre-Hosting Essentials

It is important to do some initial preparation before hosting your Ruby on Rails application. This includes finding separate needs of your Ruby on Rails application, the best hosting for Ruby on Rails, and estimations of traffic expectations. Additionally, major tools or services are also required to be analyzed, such as databases, software configuration, and security monitoring, which are significant factors for seamless hosting.

– Identify key aspects before running your Ruby on Rails application

While selecting the best Ruby on Rails hosting, there are some key aspects to be considered. Simultaneously, while choosing a cloud-based platform like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud as the base to run your Ruby on Rails application hosting would involve careful thought.

Find specific requirements for your application, whether it is efficiency or scalability, and also know the cost structures of different platforms and ensure they are within your budget. Safety should be your priority; analyze the security measures of platforms in place, compliance standards, and data privacy strategies.

Crucial Point: Remember that your choice of hosting should fit the needs of your Ruby on Rails application budget and long-term aspirations without limitations.

Related: What is Ruby on Rails hosting?

– Data-Driven Platform Choice for Ruby on Rails Hosting

Evaluate the platform’s architecture, such as 3rd party integrations, product offerings, and so on. Consider the hosting platform’s dependability, uptime guarantee, and technical support services to make sure that your application stays up and running.

Besides this, also take long-lasting scalability and the capability to adjust to changing demands into consideration when your Ruby on Rails application starts to grow and expand. This evaluation will aid you in identifying whether a cloud solution such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud is perfect for your application or if a cheap shared web hosting option will work. 

– Key considerations for your Ruby on Rails app success

When finding web hosting services for your Ruby on Rails application, be sure to decide on the final list of crucial elements that best fit the distinct needs of your project. Therefore, to support you in completing your list, we’ve outlined some important action items to keep in mind: 

1. Flexible Growth Plan: First of all, evaluate the salability needs of your Ruby app. If you anticipate faster growth or traffic volatility, select a web hosting solution that provides auto-scaling options, like cloud solutions such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. 
2. Database Positioning: Decide if you want your database to be positioned on a similar server alongside your Ruby on Rails application or on an independent server. Also, when your Ruby on Rails project needs increased performance and data privacy, think about deploying the database on an independent server. 
3. Server Setup: Select a perfect server setup that aligns with the performance needs of your project. A shared web hosting solution can be the most affordable solution for small-size Ruby on Rails applications, whereas large apps might need exclusive servers or standby machines. 
4. Safety Protocols: Evaluate the safety requirements of your project. For Ruby apps managing confidential information, emphasize deploying powerful safety features such as SSL certificates and timely safety updates.
5. Data Transmission: Check whether your Ruby app utilizes media-heavy content or has an internal audience. Integrating CDN can increase data transmission speed and minimize server load. 
6. Managed Solutions: Find out whether your Ruby on Rails application can benefit from managed solutions such as fully managed servers, automatic backups, and bug fixes. Managed solutions can help conserve time, resources, and effort, specifically if your business doesn’t have technical expertise on-site.
7. Crucial Point: Carry out a thorough cost analysis to make sure your selected web hosting plans fit within your budget. Furthermore, also take your recurring hosting expenses, long-term costs related to growth, and additional charges.

– Do You Need Different Platforms?

Here we’re sharing a table to categorize Ruby applications according to how the application is used, i.e., internal usage, both internal as well as customer-specific uses or specifically for customer-specific, and platforms/environments, i.e., development, production, or staging for different types of scales, i.e., MVP, medium scale, and enterprise-grade, can provide valuable insights for making a well-informed decision:

In the above table

• Type of Application: Describes the type of Ruby on Rails application, which could be an MVP application, mid-sized software application, or enterprise-class software application.
• Type of Usage: Classifies the applications based on their usage. It determines if the application is exclusively for internal usage, catering to both internal and customer-oriented use, or completely for customer-specific use.
• Phases the Application Goes Through: It indicates the phases the Ruby app must go through. For example, the development phase, where application features are developed and tested; the staging phase, where the Ruby on Rails application is tested in a real-world production scenario; and the production phase, where the real-time environment delivers data to the end users.
• Crucial Point: The information given in this table helps you to take the first step towards making a well-informed decision regarding design and execution strategy for a variety of applications with respect to their utilization patterns and scale. Variations can occur in this fundamental architecture due to the changing needs and challenges of every application. 

Strategize Server Installation and Configuration

You can optimize the performance of your Ruby on Rails application by meticulously planning your server’s configuration. After picking the perfect server platform, fine-tuning performance parameters, and assuring scalability and flexibility, you can increase speed and accelerate performance all while reducing downtime.

– Application and Web server setup

An application server setup includes adjusting several configurations and parameters inside the application server platform to improve speed, efficiency, safety, and dependability. This server setup process usually involves setting up different parameters like thread pools, connection pools, memory configurations, and safety protocols.

A carefully configured application server makes sure that it’ll effectively manage incoming requests and database connections and offer a safe platform for executing Ruby apps. A properly tuned application server is also necessary for assuring seamless working of the Ruby on Rails applications, minimizing downtime, and providing a satisfied user experience. For example, Puma, Thin, Rainbows, and so on. 

Moreover, properly setting up a web server while hosting a Ruby on Rails application is an important step in assuring enhanced performance, safety, and flexibility. Different tasks involved in web server settings involve configuring SSL certificates, redirections, and so on. The server configuration includes installing web server software such as Apache and Nginx to operate effortlessly with the Ruby apps. 

Other normal tasks often involve specifying virtual hosts, defining the root directory of the application, and setting request routing rules. With Apache or Nginx servers, the reverse proxy configurations are usually implemented to direct the requests to the Ruby on Rails application server like Puma. It facilitates enhanced load balancing and managing static content. 

– Choose a “Perfect” Server

For selecting the best-fit server type, it is first of all necessary to evaluate the needs of your Ruby on Rails application. Take several crucial elements into account, such as anticipated traffic volume, flexibility requirements, RAM, and processing needs that your Ruby app requires. 

Small-size projects with low-volume traffic might work efficiently on smaller and budget-friendly servers, whereas resource-heavy Ruby on Rails applications will need the most compelling servers.

Making this crucial decision at the right time is important because it lays the foundation for your web hosting framework, affecting performance, flexibility, and the overall budget. Doing an in-depth analysis of your application’s requirements and picking up the perfect hosting server from the beginning can ensure a web hosting platform that efficiently fulfills the needs of your Ruby on Rails application. 

– Determine the Final Number of Background Workers

Background workers are important for effectively governing asynchronous tasks, jobs, and queue management. To evaluate an accurate number of background workers, you’re required to analyze the anticipated workflow, the challenges of background jobs, and the expected response time.

Small-sized Ruby on Rails applications might need only a handful of workers, whereas large-sized and complex applications might take advantage of a bigger team of workers to make sure that all the tasks are processed efficiently. 

If your Ruby on Rails application depends on recurring tasks, configure a cron job to run them at particular time intervals. If you make this crucial decision early in the server setup process, make sure that your application can effectively automate various tasks, thus improving the performance and dependability of your web hosting platform. 

Additionally, by considering these factors during the initial server configuration stage, you can make sure that your Ruby app can efficiently handle background operations and keep performance at its best.

Major Ruby On Rails Application Deployment Strategies

Deciding on a powerful deployment approach for your Ruby on Rails application is an important step in assuring its smooth launch and consistent performance. Two main approaches to consider include simple and scalable deployments. This well-thought-out decision prepares you for an effortless and successful roll-out of your Ruby on Rails application, perfectly matching your deployment strategy with the distinct needs of your project.

– Simple Deployment: When Is It Best To Pick And Action Items?

1. Budget Restrictions: Select a simple deployment approach when your Ruby on Rails application faces budget restrictions. Web hosting services such as MilesWeb offer very cost-effective hosting services, which makes them a perfect fit for small businesses or startups that want to reduce hosting prices. Several web hosting providers, if selected, avail free services to you, either in the initial stages or in terms of credit points. Always remember to check them out and ensure that your deployment process is managed affordably. 
2. Development-Centric Projects: A simple deployment approach is best fit for development-focused projects, where the server administration and maintenance are handled by the development team, giving complete control of the hosting environment to the developers. 
3. Building and Testing: You can also utilize a simple deployment approach for the development of staging platforms where extensive testing and experimentation are standard practices. These environments are ideal for testing and prototyping new features. 

Action Items for Simple Deployment Include:

1. Selecting a Provider: Select an affordable web hosting provider like MilesWeb according to your budget, required server location, and resources. 
2. Server Setup: You can select any Linux distro, like Ubuntu or CentOS, as an operating system. Furthermore, you can also select the systems with optimal configurations, such as processing power, RAM, and storage space. 
3. Application Configuration: Configure your Ruby on Rails application on the web server, which involves installation of the file, setting up a server, and installation of the Rails application code. 
4. Database Configuration: If your Ruby on Rails application needs a database, deploy and setup a database server such as MySQL or PostgreSQL on a similar system or an independent system. 
5. Safety: Implement best safety measures such as advanced firewall rules, timely updates, and SSL certificates to secure your Ruby app as well as your server.
6. Regular Backups and Monitoring: Implement monitoring tools to record server performance and simultaneously install timely backup services to protect your data. 
7. Scalability: When your application starts to grow, take scaling into account by integrating more systems or scaling up your web server resources. 
8. Regular Maintenance and Updates: Regularly update and maintain your web server, OS, and major application dependencies to achieve optimal performance and security.
9. Documentation: Keep a comprehensive record of your server configuration and installation process to streamline troubleshooting and future updates.

– Scalable Deployment: When Is It Best To Consider This Option?

Scalable deployment methods are beneficial for Ruby on Rails applications that are looking for faster growth and require proficient handling of shifting workloads. 

The application deployment and handling techniques are revolutionized by two unique but complementary methods, namely, Platform as a Service (PaaS) and containerization. A PaaS environment such as Heroku or AWS Elastic Beanstalk provides a simple, streamlined, and completely managed platform, reducing the need to manage the complexities of infrastructure management. 

It allows the developer to solely concentrate on code, whereas the hosting environment is responsible for taking care of maintenance and scaling. On the contrary, containerization, usually supported by Docker, offers a standardized process of encapsulating applications together with their dependencies into portable and lightweight containers.

These containers offer consistent performance across multiple platforms, improving scalability and making sure that your applications operate reliably. We’re sharing some key considerations for you to choose this approach, categorized into 2 parts: containerization and Platform as a Service.

– Platform As A Service (Paas): When Is It Best To Consider This Option?

1. Expecting Faster Growth: Select the Platform as a Service approach when you expect faster growth in your Ruby app’s traffic volume. Different platforms, such as Heroku, offer autoscaling options by enabling your application to grow effortlessly as required.
2. Streamlined Management: Select Platform as a Service if you want to streamline server administration and installation processes. PaaS service providers take care of framework management, server scaling, and database management, thus letting your team concentrate on the main development activities. 
3. Development Centric: Platform as a Service is development-centric, which makes it a perfect fit for teams focused on simplifying the deployment processes and minimizing administrative responsibilities.

– Containerization: When Is It Best To Consider This Option?

1. Stability: Containers package a Ruby on Rails application with its dependencies, assuring stable behavior across all the platforms and also simplifying the deployment process, from development to production.
2. Portability: Containers can operate on any type of platform that assists in containerization, even if it’s an on-site server, the laptop of a developer, or cloud infrastructure. This feature simplifies the migration and scaling of your application. 
3. Isolation: Containers offer resource and process isolation, assuring that your Ruby on Rails applications operate independently of each other. This process isolation improves dependability and safety, which makes it best suitable for multi-user and microservice setups. 
4. Microservices Framework: Containers are frequently utilized in microservices-centric frameworks, in which every microservice is implemented in an independent container. This method allows for modular development, maintenance, and scaling.

Different Ruby On Rails Application Deployment Approaches

1. Automatic Deployment 

In this deployment, CI/CD, i.e., Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment pipelines, are implemented to automatize the process of deployment. Whenever any changes are sent to a Git repository, different CI/CD tools, such as Jenkins, Travis CI, and so on, automatically develop, test, and implement the Ruby on Rails application to the web hosting platform.

This method assures faster and more stable deployment while at the same time minimizing the chances of human error. Select an automatic deployment process when you adopt an agile methodology with recurring code adjustments and faster iterations. The Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment pipelines can swiftly install new functionalities and software updates, assuring updates are quickly accessible to users. 

2. Manual Deployment 

In manual deployment, the complete installation task is carried out manually. The system administrators or developers take care of retrieving code from the repository, setting up the server platform, and restarting processes whenever necessary.

Even though this method offers more control and versatility, it could be exhaustive and error-prone. But having said that, you can select manual deployment when you require granular control over every deployment step. 

This deployment process is advantageous for applications that require distinct setup or complicated server configuration. In situations where legacy systems are involved, specialized treatment or compatibility considerations are required for customized changes. 

3. Assisted Deployment

The assisted deployment method integrates automated tools with manual adjustments. Different platforms, such as AWS Elastic Beanstalk and Cloud 66, together with deployment solutions such as Capistrano, help in configuring and administering the web hosting platform. They offer ready-made deployment workflows, thus streamlining the process by enabling personalization to fulfill particular needs. 

This deployment process strikes the right balance between manual and automated processes, assuring adaptability as well as convenience. 

Best Practices Post-Deployment

Best practices for monitoring your Ruby on Rails application post-deployment

At this stage, you’ve got a thorough idea of the complete web hosting process for your Ruby app. You’ve gained a deeper understanding of different deployment techniques and when the approach best aligns with the particular demands of your project. 

• Implement uptime monitoring systems with the help of different tools such as Pingdom, UptimeRobot, or so on.
• Keep track of the availability of your application and get real-time notifications during downtime.
• Deploy performance monitoring systems in order to keep an eye on response times, server load, and resource usage. You can use different tools, such as New Relic and Datadog. 
• Configure error tracking to identify and record application issues using different services such as Sentry, Bugsnag, and so on.
• Integrate centralized logging in order to identify application issues using different tools such as Elasticsearch, logstash, or logging systems such as Loggly.
• Deploy threat detection software in order to locate prospective threats or vulnerabilities with the help of different tools such as web application firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and SIEM (security information and event management) solutions.
• Keep track of database performance, together with query response times and connection pool efficiency. Utilie database-centric monitoring tools or services. 
• Keep track of server resource utilization and scale up server resources whenever required.
• Keep track of application-oriented metrics like user signups, payment processes, or API communication. 
• Regularly assess the status and accuracy of your backup files.