Update ApplicationController

After regenerating your application with rails (i.e. rails new appname -d dbadapter), your ApplicationController would look like this:

class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
  protect_from_forgery
end

There’s no need to panic because rails:upgrade:backup made a copy of the controller to application_controller.rb.rails2.

If you have a lot of helper modules, you’ll most likely have this code in your Rails 2 ApplicationController:

helper :all

If you encounter a missing method error while monkey clicking your application, you probably forgot to update your Rails 3 ApplicationController.

Update ApplicationHelper

The ApplicationHelper module was also modified by the rails upgrde. So don’t forget to update this, too.

RAILS_* constants are deprecated is not entirely true

When you run rails:upgrade:check, it will list items you need to update including deprecated code. There is no need to change these as the word ‘deprecated’ means but I encountered several “can’t convert nil into String” errors.

rake rails:upgrade:check
(in /mnt/hgfs/greg-mini/dev/projects/propsify)
Deprecated constant(s)
Constants like RAILS_ENV, RAILS_ROOT, and RAILS_DEFAULT_LOGGER are now deprecated.
More information: http://litanyagainstfear.com/blog/2010/02/03/the-rails-module/

The culprits:
  ...

The weird part is some constants are just doing fine. In any case, here are the conversion:

RAILS_ROOT  -> Rails.root
RAILS_ENV -> Rails.env
RAILS_DEFAULT_LOGGER -> Rails.logger

You can also check your environment the Ruby way:

# before
if RAILS_ENV == 'production'
  ...

# Rails 3
if Rails.env.production?

Output strings are automatically escaped

We should all be rejoicing that Rails is now serious about XSS protection except now your pages have become ugly with all those HTML tags. For example the code below will not give you a clickable link.

- signup = link_to('create one here', signup_path)
= "If you do not have an account, #{signup}."

To fix this, use the raw() helper.

= raw "If you do not have an account, #{signup}."

Too bad for me, I got tons of views that were coded like this.

Check for ‘concat’

A popular technique to simplify your view code is to use content blocks. You create a helper that takes a block and wraps it in some HTML tags. A simple implementation would look like this:

module LayoutHelper
  def main_column(options={}, &block)
    # calls column()
  end

  def column(options={}, &block)
    # concat is not needed in Rails 3
    concat content_tag(:div, capture(&block), options)
  end
end

# in your view
- main_column do
  = render 'form'

This works fine in Rails 2 but in Rails 3 the block gets outputted twice. concat is the way to output text in a non-output block (i.e. <% %> in erb) but it seems like erb blocks in Rails 3 do not need concat.

Helpers with blocks

Before Rails 3, form_for or fields_for use non-output syntax; it means no equals sign.

# erb
<% form_for @offer do |f| %>
  # ...
<% end %>

# haml
- form_for @offer do |f|
  # ...

In Rails 3, it should now be written as an output block.

# erb
<%= form_for @offer do |f| %>
  # ...
<% end %>

# haml
= form_for @offer do |f|
  = f.fields_for :items do |ff|
    # ...

The rule is if the method is expected to return a string, it should use the output syntax. If it just buffering the returned string like content_for, it should NOT have the equals sign.

Previous: Rails 3 upgrade part 2: Routes
Next: Rails 3 upgrade part 4: Prototype helpers and Javascript

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from Mark Suster’s post “Why The ‘Fail Fast’ Mantra Needs to Fail“. Check out his article because it’s a well-written post against the “Fail Fast” idea.

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from YouTube’s description:

Today, Silicon Valley is known around the world as a fount of technology innovation and development fueled by private venture capital and peopled by fabled entrepreneurs. But it wasn’t always so. Unbeknownst to even seasoned inhabitants, today’s Silicon Valley had its start in government secrecy and wartime urgency.

In this lecture, renowned serial entrepreneur Steve Blank presents how the roots of Silicon Valley sprang not from the later development of the silicon semiconductor but instead from the earlier technology duel over the skies of Germany and secret efforts around (and over) the Soviet Union. World War II, the Cold War and one Stanford professor set the stage for the creation and explosive growth of entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley. The world was forever changed when the Defense Department, CIA and the National Security Agency acted like today’s venture capitalists funding this first wave of entrepreneurship. Steve Blank shows how these groundbreaking early advances lead up to the high-octane, venture capital fueled Silicon Valley we know today.

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No execution = $1
Weak execution = $1000
So-so execution = $10,000
Good execution = $100,000
Great execution = $1,000,000
Brilliant execution = $10,000,000

To make a business, you need to multiply the two.

—Derek Sivers, president and programmer, CD Baby and HostBaby

Read more practical software and business advice at Getting Real

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MicroISV. You (or with another developer) bootstrap your business while consulting or working for another company. You wear many hats and put in 60-hour weeks.

Side Project. You work on a small but persistent pain. You work on something cool but don’t have the desire to make it a full-fledged startup. Could be a starting point for another startup.

Open Source. You have no problem including “Software should be Free” and “We want to Make Money” on the same page of your business plan.

Join the discussion in Facebook.

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You are paid what you are really worth
You know it. You are worth $95/hour but based on your employer’s sacred chart and formula, you should receive only $15/hour and there’s nothing you can do about it. If you are the employer, you set your rate and that should make you happy.

You call the shots. All of them
You decide on the 5 W’s and 1 H – what, where, when, who, why, and how you work.

The commute is usually really nice
Have you ever fantasized taking the train naked? Ok, maybe not. If you are working at home, you can go straight from the shower to your office.

More time at home
This is a good thing if you have a family or you like the quiet space that a home provides. Don’t worry, you can still go out with your friends :)

You get to see more of your children’s activities
No more missed school plays, soccer games, or parent-teacher conferences. Be careful though because other parents and teachers may think you’re out of job :)

You get out of doing things you don’t want to do
If you don’t want to attend a friend’s party, you can make a not-so-lame excuse like videoconferencing with an important client on Sunday. Don’t worry they would understand.

No coworkers
Working alone sucks. Working with morons is worse. At least with your home-based business, you have options :).

You can do usual “weekend” things when you wish
Have you tried shopping on a Monday afternoon or going to movie theaters on a Thursday morning? No stress. All fun.

No stupid, arbitrary rules
Have you ever wondered why we need to work 5 days a week? Why not just 4? Ok, working 5 days a week is not stupid but if you are the boss, you don’t need to file a sick-leave (and lie) when you have a hangover.

No Boss
Need I say more?

Based from “Start and Run a Real Home-Based Business” by Dan Furman.

–
Photo from Extra Ketchup.

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1. Aeryon Labs Inc.
   Builds military-like devices for imaging
2. CognoVision Solutions Inc.
   Analytics for digital signage using face detection and tracking
3. Darwin Dimensions
   Build your own 3D avatar
4. Dayforce
   Employee performance management
5. D-Wave Systems Inc.
   Uses quantum computing to solve complex search and optimization problems
6. EnStream LP
   Builds mobile payment solutions
7. GaN Systems Inc.
   Focuses on green technology
8. GlassBOX Television Inc.
   Social network and content creation tools.
9. IGLOO Inc.
   Collaboration tools
10. Metranome
    Mobile content
11. Morega System Inc.
    Video streaming technology
12. NIMTech IncorporatedNo details
13. Overlay TV Inc.
    Make videos clickable
14. Peerset Inc.
    Generates recommendations for a given topic
15. PostRank Inc.
    Analytics and filtering for blogs
16. Remco Solid State Lighting Inc.
    No website
17. Rypple
    Collaboration tool designed for companies.
18. Sixtron Advanced Materials Inc.
    It’s process and products reduce the cost of solar cells
19. Skymeter Corp.
    Road traffic data measurement and analysis
20. YOU i Labs Inc.
    UI engines for phone and consumer devices

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Harsh Reality #1: Starting a business is like a roller coaster
(If you like the adrenaline rush, good!)

Harsh Reality #2: Owning a business isn’t easier than working at a 9 to 5 job
(I agree, it’s more like 24/7)

Harsh Reality #3: Consumers have to believe you are solving a problem
(It doesn’t matter what you think)

Harsh Reality #4: You have to make money
(Many startups forget this)

Harsh Reality #5: You have to give a lot to get a little
(And “free” is a strategy, not the business)

Harsh Reality #6: Coolness is inversely correlated to success
(Except for Apple)

Harsh Reality #7: Time is worth more than money
(You should know this by now)

If you are looking for practical and no non-sense advice on running your business (especially a tech startup),  I highly recommend subscribing to Neil’s updates. His posts are fun to read and  I’m sure you will learn a lot from him.

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3. Why ideas are worthless Awful idea = -1 Weak idea = 1 So-so idea = 5 Good idea = 10 Great idea = 15 Brilliant idea = 20 No execution = $1 Weak execution...

Focused on what you want to achieve. You’ve heard this a million times while you are still working for the “The Man” but it’s worth hearing it again especially that freelancing requires more work than your traditional day job. Whether it is to make more money, gain experience, or enlarge your personal network, be clear on what you’ll gain when you become a freelancer.

Have a good a business proposition. Freelancing is no different from running a business. You need tell your prospects what you can do  and convince them you’re the right man for the job. If you can’t do these things, your freelancing dream is dead.

Think about the risks.  Freelancers are optimists. After all, who in their right mind would leave the comfort of a day job for an uncertain life. As a freelancer, be aware of the things that might go wrong (e.g. delayed payments) and and how you can get out of this situation (e.g. provide discounts for early payments). If you have a mortgage, you might start negotiating for a lower rate early on rather than wait for the time when you don’t have enough money for the monthly payment.

Establish a support structure.  Your family is often the first casualty of committing to your dream. Stories of missed family anniversaries and school plays  are not unusual for people who wants to be successful. If you’re single, your health and social life takes the first beating. Make sure you communicate your goals and your family understands the risks involve before you go into freelancing. Freelancing requires that you become comfortable working alone but it doesn’t mean you need to live alone.

Freelancing is not the ultimate solution. Many people have found success while working in a corporate environment. Sometimes they found it by moving to another industry or changing careers that are aligned with their values and goals in life.  If you’re dream is to become your own boss but  you are not comfortable with the risks, don’t go into freelancing, yet. Take some freelance work while keeping your day job. The great thing about freelancing on the side is you’ll gain experience and you’ll find out whether freelancing is for you without burning a lot of money and sanity.

–
Photo courtesy of gomviandres

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My post is for people who are contemplating on moving from a regular employee to a freelancer. Whether you want to try freelancing as an escape from the corporate world or you aspire to become a freelancer since a kid, it is important to assess yourself whether the life of freelancing fits you.

Head over to Fitz’s blog and read my post “Is Freelancing Right for You?“.

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