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Created November 23, 2019 13:59
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Using pry-rails with Docker
# First, add pry-rails to your Gemfile
# https://github.com/rweng/pry-rails
gem 'pry-rails', group: :development
# Then you'll want to rebuild your Docker container to install the gems
docker-compose build
# You should now be able to add a break point anywhere in your code
binding.pry
# The problem is that Docker just kind of ignores it and moves on.
# In order to actually halt execution and use pry as normal, you have to
# these options to docker-compose.yml:
app:
tty: true
stdin_open: true
# Source:
# http://stackoverflow.com/a/37264588/1042144
# https://github.com/docker/compose/issues/423#issuecomment-141995398
# The next time `binding.pry` is executed, the process should halt and display
# an IRB-like console on the rails server screen. But you still can't use it
# directly. You have to attach a terminal to the docker container.
# In order to attach to a docker container, you need to know what its ID is.
# Use `docker ps` to get a list of the running containers and their ids.
docker ps
# Source: https://www.liquidweb.com/kb/how-to-list-and-attach-to-docker-containers/
# Then you can use the numeric ID to attach to the docker instance:
docker attach 75cde1ab8133
# It may not immediately show a rails console, but start typing and it should appear.
# If you keep this attached, it should show the rails console prompt the next time you
# hit the pry breakpoint.
# Neat things you should try with pry:
show-routes
show-models
show-source edit # If you're in a controller, for instance
cd # Navigate up or down class hierarchies. try `cd BasicObject`
ls # Check out what's inside of a class - variables, etc.
# And of course you can access local variables just by typing their names.
params
#=> <ActionController::Parameters {"controller"=>"lists", "action"=>"index"} permitted: false>
# To end your pry-rails session, you can type exit as you would exit any irb instance.
exit
# However, this does not detach the terminal from the docker container. This can be useful to
# continue debugging.
# Additionally, I had two terminals open, one to review the server log and one to attach to my container
# to use pry-rails, but docker will timeout the server log while the attached terminal
# continues to run the rails server process. I'm okay with that - I can just leave the terminal
# attached. However, if you want to detach from the container without ending the process, you need to
# press ctrl-p + ctrl-q.
# http://stackoverflow.com/a/19689048/1042144
@isabelatravaglia
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Hi! Thanks for the article "Rails Development with Docker". I've been using several of its configs on my app.
I just wanted to share that I've been using debug tools (byebug) using the command docker-compose run --service-ports web. I've found it on this website: https://blog.carbonfive.com/docker-rails-docker-compose-together-in-your-development-workflow/. It's quite handy because there's no need to go through the container attachment part.
Thanks!

@natevick
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Thanks @isabelatravaglia! That is definitely another great way to do it. Thanks for the kind words.

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