CODEWITHSUNDEEP
ruby-on-rails
vishesh
vishesh

Reputation: 2045

Rails - Where should controller helpers go?

Following is my use case -

I have a controller method(action) that makes an API call to Google. I have created a class Google which I have put in lib folder. Class Google provides the api call method.

def self.list_items(folder_id, access_token)
    result = RestClient.get "#{API_URL}/drive/v2/files",
                            {
                                :Authorization => "Bearer #{access_token}",
                                :params => {:q => "'#{folder_id}' in parents and trashed=false"}
                            }
    return JSON.parse(result)['items']
  end

However, I need to write a method that calls list_items from Google, catches exception in case access_token expires, refreshes access_token, saves the new access_token in database and makes the list_items call again.

Since this method needs to interact with database, I don't want to put it in a class in lib. I am new to rails, and I have understood that lib folder should have third party code. Class Google here can be considered a third party class as its a PORO without anything to do with rails project or my business logic. Please correct me if this understanding is wrong.

I can keep this method as a private method in controller, but assume there are multiple such methods. Won't that make the controller fat?

Also, the controller is FileApiController, while all these methods are google specific. I also have methods specific to box and dropbox. I would ideally like to create GoogleHelper, DropboxHelper etc. classes, which interact with db as well. Where to keep this classes?

I come from Grails background, and GoogleHelper would typically be made as a service in Grails like googleService. What is the rails way of doing it. Specifically, if I make a GoogleHelper class, where to keep it? I guess, helper folder is only to keep view helpers.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 160

Answers (1)

7urkm3n
7urkm3n

Reputation: 6311

Create file in app/helpers/google_helper.rb

module GoogleHelper

 class << self

  def print_hello
     puts 'HELLO WORLD'
  end      


  def list_items(folder_id, access_token)
    result = RestClient.get "#{API_URL}/drive/v2/files",
                            {
                                :Authorization => "Bearer #{access_token}",
                                :params => {:q => "'#{folder_id}' in parents and trashed=false"}
                            }
    return JSON.parse(result)['items']
  end
 end
end

If you want to call GoogleHelper in controllers then add it in application_controller.rb this include GoogleHelper

Now you can call your helper: GoogleHelper.print_hello in a controller.

Upvotes: 3

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