IntelliJ IDEA 2021.1 Help

Run/Debug Configuration: Rails

Rails run/debug configurations enable you to execute Rails applications in the selected environment.

Prerequisites

Before you start working with Ruby, make sure that Ruby plugin is installed and enabled. Press Ctrl+Alt+S, go to Plugins and inspect the Installed tab to ensure the plugin is enabled.

Also make sure that the following prerequisites are met:

  • Ruby SDK is downloaded and installed on your machine.

  • The required framework SDKs are downloaded and installed on your machine.

Refer to their respective download and installation pages for details:

Configuration tab

ItemDescription
ServerSelect the Rails server to run or debug your Rails application on.

The list of available servers includes:

Trinidad and Torquebox notes

Both Trinidad and TorqueBox servers require the following prerequisites to be met:

  • JRuby 1.7.x is specified as the project interpreter.

  • If you are going to debug Rails applications under these servers:
    • add to the Gemfile the dependency

      gem 'ruby-debug-base', '>= 0.10.5.rc10' gem 'ruby-debug-ide', '>= 0.4.23.beta10'

    • Make sure to increase Debug connection timeout up to 20-25 seconds Settings | Debugger | Ruby.

  • If you are going to run Rails applications under these two servers, add the following dependencies to the Gemfile:

    gem 'torquebox'
    for TorqueBox;
    gem 'trinidad'
    for Trinidad.

Unicorn note

Note that unicorn kills worker processes that are taking too long to respond. To avoid error messages, add the following lines to the unicorn configuration file unicorn.rb:


if ENV['IDE_PROCESS_DISPATCHER'] timeout 30 * 60 * 60 * 24 end
IP AddressSpecify the IP address where the Rails server will be accessible.
PortSpecify the port to listen to.
Server argumentsType optional server arguments.
EnvironmentSelect one of the Rails environments from the list (development, production, or test).
Dummy appThis field is only enabled for the Rails mountable engine projects. Specify here the absolute path to the dummy directory, or click the browse button and locate the desired path in the dialog that opens. This path is required to run the engine.
Environment variables

Specify the list of environment variables as the name-value pairs, separated with semi-colons. Alternatively, click the Browse button to create variables and specify their values in the Environment Variables dialog.

Ruby arguments

Specify the arguments to be passed to the Ruby interpreter.

Classpath property is added to Nailgun settings.

Ruby SDKSpecify the desired Ruby interpreter. You can opt to choose the project default Ruby SDK, or select a different one from the list of configured Ruby SDKs.
Run browserIf this checkbox is selected, a new tab will be added to your system default browser, where the application will be run or debugged. You can specify the required URL in the text field below, or use the one suggested by IntelliJ IDEA. Note that the default URL is automatically composed on the base of the IP address and port specified above.
If this checkbox is not selected, you have to launch the required browser manually.
Start JavaScript debugger automaticallyIf this checkbox is selected, the JavaScript debugger will be enabled.

Bundler tab

ItemDescription
Run the script in the context of the bundleIf this checkbox is selected, the script will be executed as specified in the Gemfile.

Code Coverage tab

Use this tab to configure code coverage monitoring options.

ItemDescription
Choose coverage runner

Select the desired code coverage runner.

By default, IntelliJ IDEA uses its own coverage engine with the Sampling mode. You can also choose JaCoCo or Emma for calculating coverage.

SamplingSelect this option to measure code coverage with minimal slow-down.
TracingSelect this option to collect accurate branch coverage. This mode is available for the IntelliJ IDEA code coverage runner only.
Track per test coverage

Select this checkbox to detect lines covered by one test and all tests covering line. If this checkbox is selected, Track per test coverage becomes available on the toolbar of the coverage statistic popup.

Refer to the section Set coverage in run configurations.

Packages and classes to record code coverage dataClick the Add button and select the Add Class button Add Class or the Add Package button Add Package to specify classes and packages to be measured. You can also remove classes and packages from the list by selecting them in the list and clicking the remove the package button.
Enable coverage in test folders.If this checkbox is selected, the folders marked as test root_Test.png are included in the code coverage analysis.

Nailgun tab

ItemDescription
Run new instance of the Nailgun server, or use already started one

This checkbox is only available for JRuby used as the project interpreter.

When a run/debug configuration, with this checkbox selected, is launched, IntelliJ IDEA analyzes the running processes, and does one of the following, depending on the presence of the running Nailgun server:

  • If there is no running Nailgun server, or if there is a Nailgun server on a non-default port, or with a different gemset, then IntelliJ IDEA suggests to specify the desired port number.

  • If a Nailgun server runs on the default port with the required gemset, IntelliJ IDEA does nothing.

  • If a Nailgun server runs on a different port with the required gemset, then IntelliJ IDEA suggests to specify the desired port number.

  • If a Nailgun server runs on the default port with a different gemset, then IntelliJ IDEA deletes the -ng argument.

If this checkbox is not selected, then the script is launched in a usual way, without Nailgun.

Logs tab

Use this tab to specify which log files generated while running or debugging should be displayed in the console, that is, on the dedicated tabs of the Run or Debug tool window.

ItemDescription
Is ActiveSelect checkboxes in this column to have the log entries displayed in the corresponding tabs in the Run tool window or Debug tool window.
Log File Entry

The read-only fields in this column list the log files to show. The list can contain:

  • Full paths to specific files.

  • Ant patterns that define the range of files to be displayed.

  • Aliases to substitute for full paths or patterns. These aliases are also displayed in the headers of the tabs where the corresponding log files are shown.

    If a log entry pattern defines more than one file, the tab header shows the name of the file instead of the log entry alias.

Skip ContentSelect this checkbox to have the previous content of the selected log skipped.
Save console output to fileSelect this checkbox to save the console output to the specified location. Type the path manually, or click the browse button and point to the desired location in the dialog that opens.
Show console when a message is printed to standard output streamSelect this checkbox to activate the output console and bring it forward if an associated process writes to Standard.out.
Show console when a message is printed to standard error streamSelect this checkbox to activate the output console and bring it forward if an associated process writes to Standard.err.
the Add buttonClick this button to open the Edit Log Files Aliases dialog where you can select a new log entry and specify an alias for it.
the Edit buttonClick this button to edit the properties of the selected log file entry in the Edit Log Files Aliases dialog.
the Delete buttonClick this button to remove the selected log entry from the list.

Common

When you edit a run configuration (but not a run configuration template), you can specify the following options:

Item

Description

Name

Specify a name for the run/debug configuration to quickly identify it when editing or running the configuration, for example, from the Run popup Alt+Shift+F10.

Allow parallel run

Select to allow running multiple instances of this run configuration in parallel.

By default, it is disabled, and when you start this configuration while another instance is still running, IntelliJ IDEA suggests to stop the running instance and start another one. This is helpful when a run/debug configuration consumes a lot of resources and there is no good reason to run multiple instances.

Store as project file

Save the file with the run configuration settings to share it with other team members. The default location is .idea/runConfigurations. However, if you do not want to share the .idea directory, you can save the configuration to any other directory within the project.

By default, it is disabled, and IntelliJ IDEA stores run configuration settings in .idea/workspace.xml.

Toolbar

The tree view of run/debug configurations has a toolbar that helps you manage configurations available in your project as well as adjust default configurations templates.

ItemShortcutDescription
the Add buttonAlt+InsertCreate a run/debug configuration.
the Remove buttonAlt+DeleteDelete the selected run/debug configuration. Note that you cannot delete default configurations.
CopyCtrl+DCreate a copy of the selected run/debug configuration. Note that you create copies of default configurations.
Save configurationThe button is displayed only when you select a temporary configuration. Click this button to save a temporary configuration as permanent.
Edit TemplatesView and edit the template (that is, the default run/debug configuration settings). The templates are displayed under the Templates node and used for newly created configurations.
Method up/ Method downAlt+Up/ Alt+Down

Move the selected run/debug configuration up and down in the list.

The order of configurations in the list defines the order, in which the configurations appear when you choose a run/debug configuration.

Default templates of run/debug configurations are always sorted alphabetically.

Move into new folder / Create new folder

Move into new folder / Create new folder. You can group run/debug configurations by placing them into folders.

To create a folder, select the configurations within a category, click Folder, and specify the folder name. If only a category is in focus, an empty folder is created.

Then, to move a configuration into a folder, between the folders or out of a folder, use drag or Move Up and Move Down buttons.

To remove grouping, select a folder and click Remove Configuration.

Sort configurations Click this button to sort configurations in the alphabetical order.

Before Launch

In this area, you can specify tasks to be performed before starting the selected run/debug configuration. The tasks are performed in the order they appear in the list.

ItemShortcutDescription
the Add buttonAlt+Insert

Click this icon to add one of the following available tasks:

  • Run External tool: select to run an external application. In the dialog that opens, select one or multiple applications you want to run. If it is not defined in IntelliJ IDEA yet, add its definition. For more information, see External tools and External Tools.

  • Run Another Configuration: select to execute another run/debug configuration. In the dialog that opens, select the configuration to be run.

  • Build: select to compile the specified module. The Build Module command will be executed.

    If an error occurs during compilation, IntelliJ IDEA won't attempt to start the run/debug configuration.

  • Build Project: select to compile the entire project. The Build Project command will be executed.

    If an error occurs during compilation, IntelliJ IDEA won't attempt to start the run/debug configuration.

  • Build, no error check: the same as the Build option, but IntelliJ IDEA will try to start the run/debug configuration irrespective of the compilation results.

  • Build Artifacts: select this option to build an artifact or artifacts. In the dialog that opens, select the artifact or artifacts that should be built.

  • Launch Web Browser: select this option to have a browser started. In the dialog that opens, select the type of the browser and provide the start URL. Also, specify if you want the browser be launched with JavaScript debugger.

  • Run Ant target: select this option to run an Ant target. In the dialog that opens, select the target to be run.

  • Run Grunt task: select this option to run a Grunt task.

    In the Grunt task dialog that opens, specify the Gruntfile.js where the required task is defined, select the task to execute, and specify the arguments to pass to the Grunt tool.

    Specify the location of the Node.js interpreter, the parameters to pass to it, and the path to the grunt-cli package.

  • Run Gulp task: select this option to run a Gulp task.

    In the Gulp task dialog that opens, specify the Gulpfile.js where the required task is defined, select the task to execute, and specify the arguments to pass to the Gulp tool.

    Specify the location of the Node.js interpreter, the parameters to pass to it, and the path to the gulp package.

  • Run Maven Goal: select this option to run a Maven goal. In the dialog that opens, select the goal to be run.

  • Run npm Script: select this option to execute an npm script.

    In the NPM Script dialog that opens, specify the npm run/debug configuration settings.
  • Start React Native Bundler: select this option to run the bundler automatically, as part of a running or debugging session. by default, this is done through react-native start. If your application uses Expo, you need to run the development server via the start npm task. To do that, click Add, then in the Configure React Native dialog, choose npm script and select start from the list.

  • Compile TypeScript: select to run the built-in TypeScript compiler and thus make sure that all the changes you made to your TypeScript code are reflected in the generated JavaScript files. In the TypeScript Compile Settings dialog that opens, select or clear the Check errors checkbox to configure the behaviour of the compiler in case any errors are detected:

    • If the Check errors checkbox is selected, the compiler will show all the errors and the run configuration will not start.

    • If the Check errors checkbox is cleared, the compiler will show all the detected errors but the run configuration still will be launched.

  • Generate CoffeeScript Source Maps: select this option to generate the source maps for your CoffeeScript sources. In the dialog that opens, specify where your CoffeeScript source files are located.

  • Upload files to Remote Host: select this option to have the application files automatically uploaded to the server according to the default server access configuration.

  • Run Remote External tool: adds a remote SSH external tool.

  • Run Rake task: add a Rake task to be executed prior to running or debugging. To choose a Rake task, click the browse button the Browse button, and select the desired task from the list of available tasks.

    Note that code completion is available here.

    Code completion for the Rake tasks

  • Run JRuby compiler: choose this option to execute JRuby compiler with the specified target path, compiler process heap size, and command line parameters (if any).

the Remove buttonAlt+DeleteClick this icon to remove the selected task from the list.
EditEnterClick this icon to edit the selected task. Make the necessary changes in the dialog that opens.
Method up/ Method downAlt+Up/ Alt+DownClick these icons to move the selected task one line up or down in the list. The tasks are performed in the order that they appear in the list.
Show this pageSelect this checkbox to show the run/debug configuration settings prior to actually starting the run/debug configuration.
Activate tool window

By default this checkbox is selected and the Run or the Debug tool window opens when you start the run/debug configuration.

Otherwise, if the checkbox is cleared, the tool window is hidden. However, when the configuration is running, you can open the corresponding tool window for it yourself by pressing Alt+4 or Alt+5.

Last modified: 04 June 2021