# First application: Alternatives to creating a database?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-application-alternatives-to-creating-a-database/171167>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [June 27, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-application-alternatives-to-creating-a-database/171167 "2009-06-27T13:12:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/superbeefburrito)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-application-alternatives-to-creating-a-database/171167/1 "2009-06-27T13:12:50Z")

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Hi,

I’ve done a bit of web development work, but decided to try something  
new after I got into a fight with PHP over regular expressions. I  
figured I’d have nothing to do by trying out Rails, so here I am.

I’m following along the getting started guide:

> **[Getting Started with Rails — Ruby on Rails Guides](https://guides.rubyonrails.org/getting_started.html)**
>
> Getting Started with RailsThis guide covers getting up and running with Ruby on Rails.After reading this guide, you will know: How to install Rails, create a new Rails application, and connect your application to a database. The general layout of a...

However, I just hit my first snag. “rake db:create” is returning the  
error “Couldn’t create the database for… etc.”. I get the  
impression that this will attempt to create the database, which would  
explain the error: With my webhost, the database users aren’t allowed  
to create new databases; that needs to be done from the web panel.

How can I -connect- to a (remote) database and build the needed  
tables, but not -create- an entirely new database? Thanks, I  
appreciate it.

Eric

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/superbeefburrito)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-application-alternatives-to-creating-a-database/171167/2 "2009-06-27T13:20:27Z")

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Hi,

I assume you have set up your database.yml file correctly, then just  
create the db manually using using the webpanel, and then run rake  
db:migrate to create all your tables.

Simon

On Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:55:54 +0800, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/superbeefburrito)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-application-alternatives-to-creating-a-database/171167/3 "2009-06-27T15:16:05Z")

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2009/6/26 removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid):

> However, I just hit my first snag. Â “rake db:create” is returning the  
> error “Couldn’t create the database for… etc.”. Â I get the  
> impression that this will attempt to create the database, which would  
> explain the error: With my webhost, the database users aren’t allowed  
> to create new databases; that needs to be done from the web panel.
> 
> How can I -connect- to a (remote) database and build the needed  
> tables, but not -create- an entirely new database? Â Thanks, I  
> appreciate it.

You might want to consider installing rails on your pc and developing  
locally initially rather than running on a remote server.

Colin

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/superbeefburrito)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-application-alternatives-to-creating-a-database/171167/4 "2009-06-28T18:50:39Z")

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Many thanks, that did it for me!

Cheers.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@superbeefburrito](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/superbeefburrito)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-application-alternatives-to-creating-a-database/171167/5 "2009-06-28T05:16:34Z")

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Use the following link:

[http://www.buildingwebapps.com/learningrails](http://www.buildingwebapps.com/learningrails)

The entire screencast selection is free and will walk you through  
creating an entire CMS system and getting your feet wet with database  
building, etc. You’ll learn all of the basic elements of rails and it  
really does help.

It’s the most complete first app you’ll build and some of what they  
teach you is incredibly useful from an administration point of view.

Take care and good luck.

I also suggest reading the following books:

Agile Web D. with Rails 3rd Edition  
Enterprise Integration with Rails (for DB and associations)  
Apress Beginning Ruby from Novice to Professional (for ruby howtos)

Then there are a lot of guide sites to get you started…

> **[Ruby on Rails Guides](https://guides.rubyonrails.org/)**
>
> Ruby on Rails Guides