How to configure Ruby on Rails with no database?

Question

It would be convenient to use Ruby on Rails for a small website project that has no current need for a database. I know I could create an empty database in MySQL and go fro

Answer 1

For an existing Rails 4/5/6 project, in your config/application.rb file you have the following line:

require 'rails/all' # or `require "rails"' in newer versions

(As reference that line is loading this file)
So instead of load ALL, you must to load each library separately as follows:

# active_record is what we're not going to use it, so comment it "just in case"
# require "active_record/railtie" 

# This is not loaded in rails/all but inside active_record so add it if
# you want your models work as expected
require "active_model/railtie" 
# And now the rest
require "action_controller/railtie"
require "action_mailer/railtie"
require "action_view/railtie"
require "active_job/railtie" # Only for Rails >= 4.2
require "action_cable/engine" # Only for Rails >= 5.0
require "sprockets/railtie"
require "rails/test_unit/railtie"

# All these depend on active_record, so they should be excluded also
# require "action_text/engine" # Only for Rails >= 6.0
# require "action_mailbox/engine" # Only for Rails >= 6.0
# require "active_storage/engine" # Only for Rails >= 5.2

Keep an eye to the comments to know what to load regarding your Rails version.
Also check the following files (in case you have them) and comment the following lines:

# package.json
"@rails/activestorage": "^6.0.0",

# app/javascript/packs/application.js
require("@rails/activestorage").start()

# bin/setup
system! 'bin/rails db:prepare'

# config/environments/development.rb
config.active_storage.service = :local # For Rails >= 5.2
config.active_record.migration_error = :page_load
config.active_record.verbose_query_logs = true

# config/environments/test.rb
config.active_storage.service = :test # For Rails >= 5.2

# config/environments/production.rb
config.active_storage.service = :local # For Rails >= 5.2
config.active_record.dump_schema_after_migration = false

# spec/rails_helper.rb
ActiveRecord::Migration.maintain_test_schema!

# test/test_helper.rb
fixtures :all # In case you're using fixtures

# Only for Rails >= 5.0
#config/initializers/new_framework_defaults.rb
Rails.application.config.active_record.belongs_to_required_by_default = true

Also remove any reference to ActiveRecord::Base in your model files (or simply delete the files if apply). For example, the autogenerated app/models/application_record.rb file.