# First Rails project: input welcomed **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [January 9, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-rails-project-input-welcomed/51914 "2006-01-09T06:32:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tim\_Wilson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Tim\_Wilson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tim_Wilson)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-rails-project-input-welcomed/51914/1 "2006-01-09T06:32:31Z")
Hi everyone, I’m working on my first Rails project and I’d like some input before I get started coding in earnest. My previous Web app development experience has been in standard Python CGI and Zope. I’m here to find out more about Rails. I work in technology in an average-sized school district (8,000 students) in Minnesota (USA). One of the problems in our elementary schools (students aged 5-12) is that teachers in different schools don’t have an easy way to send quick little messages (via email) to colleagues in other buildings who may teach the same subject. A first run at this app would have three tables: messages, staff\_members, and a join table staff\_members\_messages to fix the many-to-many relationship. I’ve posted my preliminary SQL schema at: [http://homepage.mac.com/tdwilson/.Public/ideablaster\_sql.html](http://homepage.mac.com/tdwilson/.Public/ideablaster_sql.html) (If you take a look at the SQL, you’ll notice that I am envisioning adding attachments and comments to the messages.) You can see a screenshot of the current CGI version at my blog: > **[Welcome technosavvy.org - BlueHost.com](http://technosavvy.org/?p=360)** > > Bluehost - Top rated web hosting provider - Free 1 click installs For blogs, shopping carts, and more. Get a free domain name, real NON-outsourced 24/7 support, and superior speed. web hosting provider php hosting cheap web hosting, Web hosting,... Here are some of the issues I’m pondering at this point: 1. I think I’ll need classes called Message, StaffMember, Comment, and Attachment. I’m not sure what kind of controllers I’ll need. I think I’ll need a management interface to modify staff member records, delete messages if necessary, edit comments, delete attachments, etc. Users will need to be able to send messages and search previously sent messages. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ve fully grasped the MVC pattern. 2. I’ve got a staff\_members table with email addresses and (effectively) boolean fields that record which school(s), grade(s), and subjects that the teacher teaches. I want to allow anonymous browsing of previously sent messages, but I need our teachers to log in to be able to send them. I’d like to authenticate them to our LDAP server, but I’m not sure how to do that with Rails. 3. I think it would be cool to use AJAX to build the interface for attaching files. I’m envisioning an “add attachment” button that, when pressed, would cause the file upload form element to appear along with a “+” for adding another attachment. I think this will certainly wait until I have a functioning system. All in all, I have a good sense of how this app should function and look, but I’m obviously lacking in experience with the Rails part. I’d appreciate any advice. If anyone on the list is interesting in working on this project with me, I’d appreciate the help. I’m sure that many other school districts would be interested in this application too, and I would like to make it available with an open source license once it’s finished. If you’ve gotten this far, thanks for reading. I’m enjoying Rails so far and I can see that there’s a pretty dynamic Rails community that has sprung up. -Tim – Tim Wilson Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA Educational technology guy, Linux and OS X fan, Grad. student, Daddy mailto: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid aim: tis270 blog: [http://technosavvy.org](http://technosavvy.org) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Wilson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Tim\_Wilson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tim_Wilson)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:46am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-rails-project-input-welcomed/51914/2 "2006-01-09T06:46:53Z")
I don’t want to dissuade you from learning rails or anything, but it seems like this problem has probably been solved several times already. Perhaps you just need something like one of the various open source forums like phpBB or eBlah ([Www.eblah.com](http://Www.eblah.com)). Properly configured I would bet that those would meet most of your needs out of the box. You could also try using basecamp. I seem to recall that they give some sort of special deal for schools. Tell 'em I sent ya. > **[Project management software, online collaboration](https://basecamp.com/?referrer=dukeplasticsurgery)** > > Trusted by millions, Basecamp puts everything you need to get work done in one place. It’s the calm, organized way to manage projects, work with clients, and communicate company-wide. \_Kevin ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Wilson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Tim\_Wilson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tim_Wilson)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 7:22am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/first-rails-project-input-welcomed/51914/3 "2006-01-09T07:22:40Z")
Tim Wilson wrote: > Hi everyone, > > I’m working on my first Rails project and I’d like some input before > I get started coding in earnest. My previous Web app development > experience has been in standard Python CGI and Zope. I’m here to find > out more about Rails. Hi Tim, this sounds like an excellent idea for a Rails app. Being a newcomer myself, can’t help you much with your questions, but seems like your’e on your way. it might be very helpful for other newcomers if you documented your progress as you went along. cheers, Amr