Question 1

How do I disable pry-rails temporarily?

Accepted Answer

Set the DISABLE_PRY_RAILS=1 environment variable before running rails console. You might need to run spring stop first to ensure it takes effect, as mentioned in the README.

Question 2

pry-rails vs irb for Rails console

Accepted Answer

pry-rails offers advanced features like syntax highlighting and custom commands, making it better for debugging, while IRB is simpler with no extra dependencies. Choose based on your need for enhanced introspection.

Question 3

How to customize the prompt in pry-rails?

Accepted Answer

Add Pry.config.prompt = Pry::Prompt[:rails] to your .pryrc file. Guard it with a check for Pry::Prompt[:rails] to avoid errors if pry-rails isn't available, as recommended in the documentation.

Question 4

Is pry-rails compatible with Rails 7?

Accepted Answer

pry-rails supports Rails >= 3.0, but since it's not actively maintained, compatibility with Rails 7 isn't guaranteed. Test it in your specific environment or consider alternatives if issues arise.

Question 5

How do I show models in Rails console with pry-rails?

Accepted Answer

Use the show-models command after starting rails console with pry-rails installed. It displays database schema details directly, as shown in the README examples with models like Beer and Pokemon.

Question 6

Can I use pry-rails in production?

Accepted Answer

It's typically added to the development group in the Gemfile, as interactive consoles aren't recommended for production. Use it only for development and debugging to avoid security risks.

Question 7

What are alternatives to pry-rails?

Accepted Answer

For broader Pry integration, consider pry-everywhere. If you only need basic console enhancements, manually configuring Pry without this gem might suffice, but pry-rails simplifies Rails-specific setup.

pry-rails

Overview

Use Cases

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Related Projects

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Cons

Frequently Asked Questions