Instance Variables in a Rails Model - ruby-on-rails

Question

I have this variable opinions I want to store as an instance variable in my model... am I right in assuming I will need to add a column for it or else be re-calculating it constantly?
My other question is what is the syntax to store into a column variable instead of just a local one?
Thanks for the help, code below:
# == Schema Information
#
# Table name: simulations
#
# id :integer not null, primary key
# x_size :integer
# y_size :integer
# verdict :string
# arrangement :string
# user_id :integer
#
class Simulation < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :user
serialize :arrangement, Array
validates :user_id, presence: true
validates :x_size, :y_size, presence: true, :numericality => {:only_integer => true}
validates_numericality_of :x_size, :y_size, :greater_than => 0
def self.keys
[:soft, :hard, :none]
end
def generate_arrangement
#opinions = Hash[ Simulation.keys.map { |key| [key, 0] } ]
#arrangement = Array.new(y_size) { Array.new(x_size) }
#arrangement.each_with_index do |row, y_index|
row.each_with_index do |current, x_index|
rand_opinion = Simulation.keys[rand(0..2)]
#arrangement[y_index][x_index] = rand_opinion
#opinions[rand_opinion] += 1
end
end
end
def verdict
if #opinions[:hard] > #opinions[:soft]
:hard
elsif #opinions[:soft] > #opinions[:hard]
:soft
else
:push
end
end
def state
#arrangement
end
def next
new_arrangement = Array.new(#arrangement.size) { |array| array = Array.new(#arrangement.first.size) }
#opinions = Hash[ Simulation.keys.map { |key| [key, 0] } ]
#seating_arrangement.each_with_index do |array, y_index|
array.each_with_index do |opinion, x_index|
new_arrangement[y_index][x_index] = update_opinion_for x_index, y_index
#opinions[new_arrangement[y_index][x_index]] += 1
end
end
#arrangement = new_arrangement
end
private
def in_array_range?(x, y)
((x >= 0) and (y >= 0) and (x < #arrangement[0].size) and (y < #arrangement.size))
end
def update_opinion_for(x, y)
local_opinions = Hash[ Simulation.keys.map { |key| [key, 0] } ]
for y_pos in (y-1)..(y+1)
for x_pos in (x-1)..(x+1)
if in_array_range? x_pos, y_pos and not(x == x_pos and y == y_pos)
local_opinions[#arrangement[y_pos][x_pos]] += 1
end
end
end
opinion = #arrangement[y][x]
opinionated_neighbours_count = local_opinions[:hard] + local_opinions[:soft]
if (opinion != :none) and (opinionated_neighbours_count < 2 or opinionated_neighbours_count > 3)
opinion = :none
elsif opinion == :none and opinionated_neighbours_count == 3
if local_opinions[:hard] > local_opinions[:soft]
opinion = :hard
elsif local_opinions[:soft] > local_opinions[:hard]
opinion = :soft
end
end
opinion
end
end

Answer 1

ActiveRecord analyzes the database tables and creates setter and getter methods with metaprogramming.
So you would create a database column with a migration:
rails g migration AddOpinionToSimulation opinion:hash
Note that not all databases support storing a hash or a similar key/value data type in a column. Postgres does. If you need to use another database such MySQL you should consider using a relation instead (storing the data in another table).
Then when you access simulation.opinion it will automatically get the database column value (if the record is persisted).
Since ActiveRecord creates a setter and getter you can access your property from within the Model as:
class Simulation < ActiveRecord::Base
# ...
def an_example_method
self.opinions # getter method
# since self is the implied receiver you can simply do
opinions
opinions = {foo: "bar"} # setter method.
end
end
The same applies when using the plain ruby attr_accessor, attr_reader and attr_writer macros.
When you assign to an attribute backed by a database column ActiveRecord marks the attribute as dirty and will include it when you save the record.
ActiveRecord has a few methods to directly update attributes: update, update_attributes and update_attribute. There are differences in the call signature and how they handle callbacks.

Answer 2

you can add a method like
def opinions
#opinions ||= Hash[ Simulation.keys.map { |key| [key, 0] }
end
this will cache the operation into the variable #opinions
i would also add a method like
def arrangement
#arrangement ||= Array.new(y_size) { Array.new(x_size) }
end
def rand_opinion
Simulation.keys[rand(0..2)]
end
and then replace the variables with your methods
def generate_arrangement
arrangement.each_with_index do |row, y_index|
row.each_with_index do |current, x_index|
arrangement[y_index][x_index] = rand_opinion
opinions[rand_opinion] += 1
end
end
end
now your opinions and your arrangement will be cached and the code looks better. you didn't have to add a new column in you table
you now hat to replace the #opinions variable with your opinions method