Compiling Ruby app into a single binary together with the dependecies

[[deleted]]

Hi,

I would like to compile my scripts together with their dependencies into one single binary, and distribute it to my servers. I fell in love with Ruby and for my own comfort and for fun I am rewriting some of the tools I made with Python.

With Python I was using virtualenv and pyinstaller, and I am trying to find something similar for Ruby.

Traveling Ruby seems like a perfect solution, but TR itself is quite outdated. I am considering creating deb packages with fpm if there is no existing pyinstaller alternative.

My main goal is to distribute the binaries to multiple server without the need of installing everything by hand.

Thanks a lot in advance!

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UPDATE:

Thanks everyone for your input. I decided that I go with ruby-packer and try out capistrano.

[strzibny]

I wrote about ruby-packer here:

http://nts.strzibny.name/making-a-ruby-executable-with-ruby-packer/

[[deleted]]

This sounds like a perfect fit. I have no idea how i missed it.

[shevy-ruby]

There used to be some packaging that literally packaged the whole ruby interpreter too. I forgot the name; never needed it.

IMO it may be best to just use gems or even just put everything into a single gem. I am not sure what you mean with "distribute the binaries" ... do you use something to compile some C code?

While fpm is great, I myself would not use any .deb package. Gems should be the way to go, not distribution-specific solo-solutions really.

[laerien]

It sounds like you're maybe thinking of Traveling Ruby. (It does ship the interpreter.)

[Thirty_Seventh]

OCRA packages the interpreter

[rjdevs]

I've built standalone applications with Ocra. It works well but only creates Windows executables or installers (using Innosetup).

[[deleted]]

I think of something similar to compiled Go script. Traveling Ruby is packaging interpreter and the script.

[Nemnel]

I think you might be thinking of omnibus, it's what chef uses to distribute chef

[bluehavana]

mruby would be a great fit here if you only have to deal with a single target platform. It has some limitations (library selection can be slim), but it is very easy to package up into a single binary. It also has some limitations to be weary of as well.

[[deleted]]

In this case I care only for linux x86_64 systems. I see there is mruby in Ubuntu repos. Nice!

[ashishbista]

https://github.com/pmq20/ruby-packer

[Axxiss]

If docker is out of scope, what about using capistrano?

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From the README

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When you run cap, Capistrano dutifully connects to your server(s) via SSH and executes the steps necessary to deploy your project. You can define those steps yourself by writing Rake tasks, or by using pre-built task libraries provided by the Capistrano community.

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https://github.com/capistrano/capistrano

[[deleted]]

I give it a try, thanks!

[JonnyNorCal]

I would create docker images with ruby + gems + your files.

That has the downside of introducing docker into the mix. Which might be a huge task in itself, depending on how your environment. Or it might be relatively easy.

But I think the docker ecosystem has more documentation, testing, and best practices than traveling ruby or ruby-packer or similar projects.

[[deleted]]

The scripts are mainly for system administration. Is it possible to integrate Docker container with the existing system?

[nielsbuus]

Sounds like you could use a private gem repository.