# Rails::Observers

Rails Observers (removed from core in Rails 4.0)

## Installation

Add this line to your application's Gemfile:

    gem 'rails-observers'

And then execute:

    $ bundle

Or install it yourself as:

    $ gem install rails-observers

## Usage

This gem contains two observers:

* Active Record Observer
* Action Controller Sweeper

### Active Record Observer

Observer classes respond to life cycle callbacks to implement trigger-like
behavior outside the original class. This is a great way to reduce the
clutter that normally comes when the model class is burdened with
functionality that doesn't pertain to the core responsibility of the
class. Example:

```ruby
class CommentObserver < ActiveRecord::Observer
  def after_save(comment)
    Notifications.comment("admin@do.com", "New comment was posted", comment).deliver
  end
end
```

This Observer sends an email when a Comment#save is finished.

```ruby
class ContactObserver < ActiveRecord::Observer
  def after_create(contact)
    contact.logger.info('New contact added!')
  end

  def after_destroy(contact)
    contact.logger.warn("Contact with an id of #{contact.id} was destroyed!")
  end
end
```

This Observer uses logger to log when specific callbacks are triggered.

### Action Controller Sweeper

Sweepers are the terminators of the caching world and responsible for expiring caches when model objects change.
They do this by being half-observers, half-filters and implementing callbacks for both roles. A Sweeper example:

```ruby
class ListSweeper < ActionController::Caching::Sweeper
  observe List, Item

  def after_save(record)
    list = record.is_a?(List) ? record : record.list
    expire_page(:controller => "lists", :action => %w( show public feed ), :id => list.id)
    expire_action(:controller => "lists", :action => "all")
    list.shares.each { |share| expire_page(:controller => "lists", :action => "show", :id => share.url_key) }
  end
end
```

The sweeper is assigned in the controllers that wish to have its job performed using the `cache_sweeper` class method:

```ruby
class ListsController < ApplicationController
  caches_action :index, :show, :public, :feed
  cache_sweeper :list_sweeper, :only => [ :edit, :destroy, :share ]
end
```

In the example above, four actions are cached and three actions are responsible for expiring those caches.

You can also name an explicit class in the declaration of a sweeper, which is needed if the sweeper is in a module:

```ruby
class ListsController < ApplicationController
  caches_action :index, :show, :public, :feed
  cache_sweeper OpenBar::Sweeper, :only => [ :edit, :destroy, :share ]
end
```

## Contributing

1. Fork it
2. Create your feature branch (`git checkout -b my-new-feature`)
3. Commit your changes (`git commit -am 'Added some feature'`)
4. Push to the branch (`git push origin my-new-feature`)
5. Create new Pull Request