string_enums

StringEnums is a concern that makes it easy to work with enums. Include the module, then invoke the class method string_enum with the attribute name followed by the list of valid values. This will add checks, writers, and constants for each value.

class Person < ActiveRecord::Base
  include StringEnums
  string_enum status: %w(living dead reviving zombie permanently_dead)
end

class FilesystemObject < ActiveRecord::Base
  include StringEnums
  string_enum kind: ['file', 'folder', 'symbolic link']
end

A class declares string_enum status: ['pending', 'in progress', 'completed'], which adds the following...

... checks:

• pending?
• in_progress?
• completed?

... and writers:

• mark_pending
• mark_in_progress
• mark_completed

... and constants:

• STATUS_PENDING
• STATUS_IN_PROGRESS
• STATUS_COMPLETED