Question 1

How do I add user authentication to a Sinatra app?

Accepted Answer

Sinatra doesn't have built-in authentication; you typically use gems like 'sinatra-authentication' or implement it manually with session management and middleware, following the README's guidelines on secure session handling with environment variables for secrets.

Question 2

Sinatra vs Ruby on Rails: which is better for building APIs?

Accepted Answer

Sinatra excels for lightweight, fast APIs due to its minimal overhead and simple routing DSL, while Rails is better for complex APIs with built-in conventions, ActiveRecord, and tooling, but adds more boilerplate.

Question 3

How to connect a database like PostgreSQL to Sinatra?

Accepted Answer

Use gems like ActiveRecord or Sequel; Sinatra doesn't prescribe a database layer, so you need to set up models, migrations, and connections manually, often integrating with Rack middleware for features like connection pooling.

Question 4

What's the best way to handle errors in Sinatra?

Accepted Answer

Define custom error handlers using Sinatra's error blocks for specific exceptions or status codes, and configure settings like show_exceptions to control stack trace display in development versus production environments.

Question 5

Can Sinatra be used for real-time apps with WebSockets?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but not natively; you need to integrate libraries like 'faye' or use Rack middleware to add WebSocket support, which requires additional setup and might not be as straightforward as in frameworks designed for real-time features.

Question 6

How to deploy a Sinatra application to production?

Accepted Answer

Deploy using Rack-compatible servers like Puma or Unicorn, with a config.ru file for modular apps; platforms like Heroku, AWS, or any Ruby-supported hosting work, but you must manage dependencies and environment settings manually.

Sinatra

What is Sinatra?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions