Question 1

How do I test a Trailblazer operation with RSpec?

Accepted Answer

Use the trailblazer-test gem which provides helpers like `assert_pass` for unit tests. Integrate it with RSpec to write concise tests that verify operation outcomes and data exposure, as shown in the README's testing example.

Question 2

What's the difference between Trailblazer operations and plain Ruby service objects?

Accepted Answer

Trailblazer operations offer a standardized framework with built-in flow control, error handling, and tracing, whereas plain service objects are ad-hoc and require manual implementation of these features, leading to inconsistency across a codebase.

Question 3

Is Trailblazer suitable for small projects or only large applications?

Accepted Answer

Trailblazer is best suited for medium to large applications with complex business logic. For small projects, the overhead of learning and implementing the framework might not be justified compared to simpler patterns like basic MVC.

Question 4

How do I debug a failing step in a Trailblazer operation?

Accepted Answer

Use the built-in tracing feature by calling `Operation.wtf?` instead of `call`. This provides a visual trace of the execution flow, highlighting exactly which step failed, as demonstrated in the README's tracing section with the `#wtf?` method.

Question 5

Trailblazer vs Interactor: which is better for Ruby on Rails?

Accepted Answer

Trailblazer provides a more comprehensive framework with additional layers like form objects and policies, while Interactor is lighter and focuses solely on service objects. Choose Trailblazer for full-stack business logic structuring or Interactor for minimal, focused service objects.

Question 6

How do I handle nested operations or composition in Trailblazer?

Accepted Answer

Trailblazer supports nesting and composition through its operation DSL, allowing you to call other operations within steps and use variable mapping for data passing. Refer to the documentation on activity variable mapping for specific implementation details.

Trailblazer

What is Trailblazer?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

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Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions