# How to use with existing app?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-with-existing-app/48786>\
**Category:** Ruby-Forum\
**Created:** [November 24, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-with-existing-app/48786 "2005-11-24T17:42:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ryan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ryan)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-with-existing-app/48786/1 "2005-11-24T17:42:20Z")

</div>

I have rewritten one of our sites using Rails, but now need to add a  
forum to it. Would love to use a native Rails app for that purpose, and  
RForum seems the way to go. But how to integrate RForum with an  
existing app?

I mean, it has its own database schema, a site.rb config file, which I  
assume would effect the entire app if I put it in there, etc.

Is there a simple way of plugging one Rails app into another? Or do I  
need to just go through the code an alter everything to fit into the app  
I have already built?

Thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ryan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ryan)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-with-existing-app/48786/2 "2005-12-02T13:30:40Z")

</div>

Ryan wrote:

> I have rewritten one of our sites using Rails, but now need to add a  
> forum to it. Would love to use a native Rails app for that purpose, and  
> RForum seems the way to go. But how to integrate RForum with an  
> existing app?
> 
> I mean, it has its own database schema, a site.rb config file, which I  
> assume would effect the entire app if I put it in there, etc.
> 
> Is there a simple way of plugging one Rails app into another? Or do I  
> need to just go through the code an alter everything to fit into the app  
> I have already built?
> 
> Thanks.

I would use a virtual host like: [forum.yourdomain.com](http://forum.yourdomain.com)  
It would make upgrading easier if you keep the apps seperated.

Paul

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ryan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ryan)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-with-existing-app/48786/3 "2005-12-03T12:09:36Z")

</div>

Paul wrote:

> I would use a virtual host like: [forum.yourdomain.com](http://forum.yourdomain.com)  
> It would make upgrading easier if you keep the apps seperated.

That’s definetely the easiest way. Combining different apps is not  
really possible at the moment because Rails doesn’t really support  
namespaces.