Paul Revere

Simple announcement plugin to include "one off" style announcements in Rails web apps.

Install with the asset pipeline (Rails 3.1+, asset pipeline enabled)

Install as normal in your Gemfile:

gem 'paul_revere'

Run the generator to create the migration:

rails generate paul_revere

Add the announcement JS to app/assets/javascripts/application.js:

//= require announcements

Run the migration:

rake db:migrate && rake db:migrate:redo

Install without the asset pipeline (Rails 3.0 or asset pipeline disabled)

Install as normal in your Gemfile:

gem 'paul_revere'

Run the generator to create the migration and copy the JavaScript file into public:

rails generate paul_revere

Add the announcement JS to your layout, such as app/views/layouts/application.html.erb:

<%= javascript_include_tag 'announcements' %>

Run the migration:

rake db:migrate && rake db:migrate:redo

Usage

Paul Revere provides...

A model called Announcement, which has nothing more than timestamps and a "body" column (text column). We view the most recent Announcement as the "current" announcement, and will select that to show on the site.
A helper called #current_announcement, which will return that latest Announcement record.
A view partial called _announcement_for_all, which is intended to be shown to all site users.
A view partial called _announcement, which is intended to be shown only to logged in users.
A view partial called _email_announcement, which is intended to be used in site emails which are sent out.

So the flow would be...

Install the gem
Use those partials in the correct places in your view code and mailer view code where you want announcements to show up:

<%= render 'announcements/announcement_for_all' %>
When you want to make an announcement, use the Rails console to create a new Announcement record:

Announcement.create!(body: 'This Web site is shutting down because you refuse to pay')

Beastie Boys Lyrics

Now here's a little story I've got to tell About three bad brothers you know so well It started way back in history With Adrock, M.C.A., and me - Mike D. Been had a little horsy named Paul Revere Just me and my horsy and a quart of beer Riding across the land, kicking up sand Sheriff's posse on my tail cause I'm in demand One lonely Beastie I be All by myself without nobody The sun is beating down on my baseball hat The air is gettin' hot the beer is getting flat Lookin' for a girl I ran into a guy His name is M.C.A., I said, "Howdy" he said, "Hi"

He told a little story that sounded well rehearsed Four days on the run and that he's dying of thirst The brew was in my hand and he was on my tip His voice was hoarse, his throat was dry he asked me for a sip He said, "Can I get some?" I said, "You can't get none!" Had a chance to run He pulled out his shotgun He was quick on the draw I thought I'd be dead He put the gun to my head and this is what he said,

"Now my name is M.C.A. I've got a license to kill I think you know what time it is it's time to get ill Now what do we have here an outlaw and his beer I run this land, you understand I make myself clear." We stepped into the wind he had a gun, I had a grin You think this story's over but it's ready to begin

"Now I got the gun you got the brew You got two choices of what you can do It's not a tough decision as you can see I can blow you away or you can ride with me" I said, I'll ride with you if you can get me to the border The sheriff's after me for what I did to his daughter I did it like this, I did it like that I did it with a whiffleball bat So I'm on the run the cop's got my gun And right about now it's time to have some fun The King Adrock that is my name And I know the fly spot where they got the champagne." We rode for six hours then we hit the spot The beat was a bumping and the girlies was hot This dude was staring like he knows who we are We took the empty spot next to him at the bar M.C.A. said, "Yo, you know this kid?" I said, "I didn't." but I know he did The kid said, "Get ready cause this ain't funny My name's Mike D. and I'm about to get money." Pulled out the jammy aimed it at the sky He yelled, "Stick 'em up!" and let two fly Hands went up and people hit the floor He wasted two kids that ran for the door "I'm Mike D. and I get respect Your cash and your jewelry is what I expect" M.C.A. was with it and he's my ace So I grabbed the piano player and I punched him in the face The piano player's out the music stopped His boy had beef and he got dropped Mike D. grabbed the money M.C.A. snatched the gold I grabbed two girlies and a beer that's cold.

Credits

Paul Revere is maintained and funded by thoughtbot, inc

Thank you to all the contributors!

The names and logos for thoughtbot are trademarks of thoughtbot, inc.