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OS X Railsinstaller

If you wrote down Core Duo as your processor type in the previous step, DO NOT continue with these steps. Please flag down a volunteer for additional help.

These instructions should work on Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

Step 1: Run RailsInstaller

RailsInstaller includes Rails, Ruby, Git, and SQLite.

Go to http://railsinstaller.org/, scroll to the 'Downloads' section, and download the RailsInstaller for your OS.

Click on the downloaded file to run the install wizard. Click Next at each step to accept the defaults. Enter your full name and email when prompted.

Step 2: Open Terminal

Look for Terminal.app inside Applications -> Utilities.

Add it to your dock; you'll be using it a lot. (To add it to the dock, click and hold the dock icon once Terminal is open. Select options -> keep in dock.)

Arrange your windows so that Terminal and your web browser are next to each other. You will want to read from your browser and type into your terminal at the same time.

Step 3: Install Sublime Text 2

We'll be using the Sublime Text 2 text editor during the workshop, though you are free to use a different editor if you prefer. It must be a plain-text editor, such as vi or TextMate.

Microsoft Word and other word processing programs, including TextEdit and Notepad, will not work.

When in doubt, use Sublime Text 2.

Step 3.1: Download Sublime Text 2

Download the Sublime Text 2 installer.

Step 3.2: Select "Open with DiskImageMounter" in the file save dialog

This should be the default.

It will open an installer with a Sublime Text 2 icon and a picture of your Applications folder. Something like this:

Step 3.3: Drag Sublime Text 2 into your Applications folder.

It will open an installer with a Sublime Text 2 icon and a picture of your Applications folder. Drag Sublime Text 2 into your Applications folder.

Step 3.4: Unmount the installer disk image

by dragging it from your desktop to the trash

Step 4: Update Rails

Currently, RailsInstaller installs Rails 3.2.x, but we want 4.x. Upgrading Rails is pretty easy:

Type this in the terminal:
gem install rails

...and you're done. New Rails! Woo.

Step 5: Update Rails

Currently, RailsInstaller installs Rails 3.2.x, but we want 4.x. Upgrading Rails is pretty easy:

Type this in the terminal:
gem install rails

...and you're done. New Rails! Woo.

Verify successful installation

Type this in the terminal:
which git
Expected result:
/usr/bin/git
Type this in the terminal:
which ruby
Approximate expected result:
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.3-p194/bin/ruby
The greyed-out text may differ and is not important.
Type this in the terminal:
which rails
Approximate expected result:
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.3-p194/bin/rails
The greyed-out text may differ and is not important.
Type this in the terminal:
ruby -v
Approximate expected result:
ruby 1.9.3p194
The greyed-out text may differ and is not important.
Type this in the terminal:
rails -v
Approximate expected result:
Rails 4.0.x
The greyed-out text may differ and is not important.

Next Step:

Go on to Configure Git