Launch of upgradecode.io: Simplify Your Code Upgrades!

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of upgradecode.io, a cutting-edge platform designed to streamline and simplify the process of upgrading your projects. Our platform offers automated tools to analyze your code, identify necessary updates, and provide actionable recommendations and patches. Whether you’re upgrading Ruby, Rails, or JavaScript projects, upgradecode.io makes your transition smoother with detailed insights and guided updates. Start enhancing your projects today at upgradecode.io and keep your applications up-to-date with ease!

I recently decided to upgrade an older project of mine, railsbp, which was using Ruby 2.3 and Rails 4.2. My goal was to bring it up to Ruby 3.2 and Rails 6.1, and I used upgradecode.io to facilitate this process.

Initial Setup

Initially, upgradecode.io does not automatically update Ruby and gem versions in the Gemfile—that’s something you need to handle manually. I started by creating a new branch features/upgrade-ruby-to-3-2-and-rails-to-6-1 and manually updated Ruby to 3.2 and Rails to 6.1 in the Gemfile.

Creating and Connecting the Project

Next, I created a new project on upgradecode.io and connected it to the git repository. The project page gave me the option to analyze the project, select versions, and choose either official snippets or input custom snippets for the upgrade.

Selecting Versions and Analyzing the Codebase

I selected the branch features/upgrade-ruby-to-3-2-and-rails-to-6-1 and specified that I was upgrading from Ruby 2.3 to 3.2 and from Rails 4.2 to 6.1. I also opted to modernize the RSpec syntax from version 3.5 and checked the option to analyze gem dependencies in Gemfile.lock. This feature extends to JavaScript as well; for instance, I indicated upgrading jQuery from version 1.9 to 3.5. Clicking the “Process” button started the analysis.

Reviewing and Applying Changes

The analysis took a few minutes, depending on the size of the codebase. Here’s what happened next:

• jQuery Changes: Upgradecode.io recommends using on('click', fn) instead of click(fn). This update aligns with more consistent and modern jQuery syntax. To implement this change, I can click the “Send Pull Request” button to apply this change to GitHub, allowing the CI to run the tests and merge the PR.

• Rails Syntax Upgrades: Upgradecode.io provided several Rails-specific syntax updates:

  • rails/add_active_record_migration_rails_version: Introduced in Rails 5.0, this update adds a default Rails version, [4.2], to new migrations.

• • rails/add_application_job: Also from Rails 5.0, this creates a new base class ApplicationJob, allowing other job classes to inherit from ApplicationJob instead of ActiveJob::Base.

• • rails/add_application_mailer: Adds a base class ApplicationMailer for mailers.

• • rails/add_application_record: Establishes ApplicationRecord as a base class for all models instead of directly inheriting from ActiveRecord::Base.

• • rails/convert_configs_6_0_to_6_1: Updates application configuration files to set config.load_defaults to 6.1.

• • rails/convert_env_to_request_env: Replaces the use of env with request.env in controllers.

• • rails/convert_render_text_to_render_plain: Changes render text: to render plain: to align with Rails 5.1+ standards.

• • rails/convert_test_request_methods_4_2_to_5_0: Updates test request methods to use keyword arguments for params, headers, session, and flash, aligning with Rails 5.0 changes.

• • rails/convert_update_attributes_to_update: Replaces deprecated update_attributes with update, simplifying ActiveRecord model updates.

• Ruby Syntax Enhancements: The following changes were suggested for the Ruby code:

  • ruby/deprecate_file_exists: Since File.exists? is removed in Ruby 3.2, it is replaced with File.exist?.

• • ruby/shorthand_hash_syntax: Introduced with Ruby 3.1, this suggestion applies the shorthand syntax for hash keys that are symbols.

• Modernize RSpec Syntax:

  • rspec/explicit_spec_type: This snippet adds type: :model to model specs and type: :controller to controller specs, making the spec type explicit.

I want to show you a feature that allows you to selectively apply changes. For example, if you don’t want to apply certain changes, you can simply uncheck them. In this instance, I unchecked config.infer_spec_type_from_file_location! and clicked “Send Pull Request” button. As a result, upgradecode.io will created a PR without this change.

Railsbp is a small project, so there aren’t many code changes. However, upgradecode.io provides numerous snippets that can be applied to larger projects, making it easier to upgrade your codebase.

Handling Dependency Issues

Since I opted to check gems, upgradecode.io also analyzed the code within gems to identify potential compatibility issues. For example:

• The hashie gem version 5.0.0 uses deprecated Fixnum and Bignum in its source code.

• The high_voltage gem version 3.0.0 still uses File.exists? which is removed.

These insights are crucial as they indicate a need for an update or a fork of the gem.

Conclusion

Upgradecode.io not only provided a comprehensive analysis and actionable suggestions but also seamlessly integrated these changes with GitHub, facilitating easy reviews and merges. Whether it’s upgrading Ruby, Rails, or JavaScript codebase, upgradecode.io proves to be an indispensable tool for developers seeking to modernize their applications efficiently.