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By Jesse Wolgamott Explore tips to upgrade from each major version to the other, and how to efficiently tackle a 1.2 to 4.0 upgrade through two different case studies. The velocity of change for Rails versions has a side effect -- businesses hesitate to update to the latest version until their productivity drops and they're forced to update. What happens then? Let's explore a case study of a Rails app that followed this pattern. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/FG9R/
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In the talk 'The Long Ball - Upgrading long lived Rails apps from 1.x-4.0' by Jesse Wolgamott at RailsConf 2013, the focus is on the importance and strategies for upgrading legacy Rails applications efficiently. Wolgamott provides insights into the evolution of Rails versions and addresses common challenges developers face while maintaining and upgrading older applications. He suggests a framework for incremental upgrades while emphasizing the risks of staying on outdated versions. Key points discussed include: - **The Evolution of Rails**: Wolgamott tracks the changes from Rails 1.0 to 4.0, highlighting significant updates and features that improve the development experience and application performance over the years. - **Reasons for Upgrading**: Upgrading is crucial not only for new features and API enhancements but also for security updates. Legacy apps can be vulnerable if not updated regularly, risking exposure to exploitation. - **Case Studies**: He shares insights about organizations like American Airlines that have legacy applications running for decades. The discussion reflects on both successful upgrades and cautionary tales of businesses hesitant to move forward. - **Upgrade Methodologies**: Wolgamott contrasts two upgrade methods: a complete rewrite of the application versus a gradual refactoring approach. He contends that organizational support is essential for any large-scale rewrite and discusses the pitfalls that can arise during these processes. - **Practical Upgrade Steps**: Specific steps for moving from Rails 2.3 to 3.0 and from 3.0 to 3.1 are provided, including changes to routing, JavaScript updates, and reworking the Active Record interface. - **Security Practices**: He emphasizes the transition to Rails 4.0, noting the introduction of strong parameters for improved data integrity and security. - **Focus on Future Improvements**: Wolgamott encourages developers to adopt a philosophy of continuous upgrades, ensuring that applications adapt to the evolving Rails ecosystem to avoid stagnation. In conclusion, Wolgamott advocates for proactive maintenance of Rails applications and careful planning to navigate the complexity of version upgrades. He stresses that while the upgrade process may involve challenges, the benefits of modernization far outweigh the risks of remaining on old versions. A commitment to incremental improvements is crucial for long-term application viability.
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