1. rails new <project_name> -d postgresql --skip-test-unit --skip-turbolinks --skip-spring

• -d postgresql sets up the project to use PostgreSQL
• --skip-test-unit skips the creation of the test directory
• --skip-turbolinks & --skip-spring creates a project that does not use turbolinks or spring

2. In the Gemfile:

• inside of group :development, :test:
  • gem 'rspec-rails'
    • bundle
    • rails g rspec:install
  • gem 'capybara
    • inside of rails_helper.rb: require 'capybara/rails'
  • gem 'launchy - for running save_and_open_page
  • gem 'shoulda-matchers' - easy model testing
    • inside of rails_helper.rb:

    Shoulda::Matchers.configure do |config|
      config.integrate do |with|
        with.test_framework :rspec
        with.library :rails
      end
    end
    

• gem 'unicorn' - slightly faster web server
• gem 'rails_12factor', group: :production - If publishing on Heroku
• gem 'database_cleaner' (test only)
• (optional) gem 'factory_girl_rails' (test only)
  • touch spec/support/factory_girl.rb:

  RSpec.configure do |config|
    config.include FactoryGirl::Syntax::Methods
    
    config.before(:suite) do
      begin
        DatabaseCleaner.start
        FactoryGirl.link
      ensure
        DatabaseCleaner.clean
      end
    end
  end
  

  • In rails_helper.rb uncomment `Dir[Rails.root.join('spec/support/**/*.rb')].each { |f| require f }
  • touch spec/support/factories.rb

  FactoryGirl.define do
    <factories for each model go here>
  end
  

• (if not using FactoryGirl)
  • http://www.virtuouscode.com/2012/08/31/configuring-database_cleaner-with-rails-rspec-capybara-and-selenium/
• gem 'figaro'
  • bundle exec figaro install