Rails Quick Tips - 07 - Easy database management

In this Rails quick tip, I'll discuss a built-in command you can use to supercharge the tedious database configuration process with Ruby on Rails.

First, you'll need to ensure you have the necessary database driver installed. For this article, we'll use PostgreSQL as an example.

Next, open up your terminal and navigate to your Rails project directory. Once you're there, type in the following command:

rails db:system:change --to=postgresql

You'll likely be prompted to overwrite an existing database.yml configuration file. Hitting return or typing Y should do just that.

And just like that, your database type is now PostgreSQL!

But wait, there's more! What if you want to switch back to your old database type? No problem. Simply run the same command, but replace postgresql with your old database type.

rails db:system:change --to=mysql

Now you're back to MySQL. Easy peasy, right?

But what if you're feeling adventurous and want to try out a completely different database type, like SQLite or Oracle? No problem at all! Simply install the necessary database driver and run the same command with the appropriate database type.

rails db:system:change --to=sqlite

Voila! Your database type is now SQLite.

In conclusion, changing your database type using Ruby on Rails 7 is a breeze, thanks to the rails db:system:change command. So go forth, my fellow Rails developers, and switch your database types to your heart's content. Happy coding!