# Generator or Plugin

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generator-or-plugin/126216>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [January 16, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generator-or-plugin/126216 "2008-01-16T11:52:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![daz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@daz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/daz)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generator-or-plugin/126216/1 "2008-01-16T11:52:03Z")

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I’ve made a very simple CMS to help build simple web site. It contains  
a page model and allows you to add new pages using the markdown  
language. I’d like to abstract this functionality as I feel that I  
might want to use it in future sites that I build. and have been  
reading the Rails recipe book. My options appear to be: Write a  
generator that will produce all the relevant code or Create a plugin  
that will add this functionality to a site. Has anybody got any  
suggestions/reasons why I should go with one or the other, or is there  
a third way?

cheers,

DAZ

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**Author:** ![daz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@daz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/daz)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generator-or-plugin/126216/2 "2008-01-19T00:02:35Z")

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On 1/16/08, DAZ [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> I’ve made a very simple CMS to help build simple web site. It contains  
> a page model and allows you to add new pages using the markdown  
> language. I’d like to abstract this functionality as I feel that I  
> might want to use it in future sites that I build. and have been  
> reading the Rails recipe book. My options appear to be: Write a  
> generator that will produce all the relevant code or Create a plugin  
> that will add this functionality to a site. Has anybody got any  
> suggestions/reasons why I should go with one or the other, or is there  
> a third way?

Copy and paste?

–  
Greg D.  
[http://destiney.com/](http://destiney.com/)

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**Author:** ![daz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@daz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/daz)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generator-or-plugin/126216/3 "2008-01-19T15:55:37Z")

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On Jan 18, 11:01 pm, “Greg D.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Copy and paste?

hmmm…there are quite a number of files and folders involved. I’m not  
sure this is the most efficient way of doing it?

DAZ

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**Author:** ![daz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@daz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/daz)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 8:35am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/generator-or-plugin/126216/4 "2008-01-20T08:35:43Z")

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A plugin would be nicer and easier to manage.

On Jan 19, 2008 7:01 AM, Greg D. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> > suggestions/reasons why I should go with one or the other, or is there

–  
Ramon T.