RubyGems
RubyGems is the code-packaging system for the Ruby community. Started as a project in 2004 by the directors of Ruby Central and friends, RubyGems has grown into an invaluable and wide-ranging resource for the sharing of code among all members of the community.
A highly distributed structure
The RubyGems team operates with a highly distributed structure, presenting many challenges. Determining whether a specific component of our infrastructure is essential for the everyday operation of rubygems.org. Determining if something is needed or no longer necessary presents a complex process, as knowledge can easily be lost, or buried deep in chat logs.
To centralize their shared knowledge and codify their infrastructure into a system capable of facilitating the creation of repeatable and, more importantly, documented environments, the RubyGems team chose to utilize DNSimple’s Terraform provider. Our provider seamlessly integrated with their existing CDN and Cloud Provider integrations, providing a solid foundation to build upon.
Implementing and using DNSimple and Terraform
The implementation process was straightforward and efficient. The DNSimple provider successfully automated the intricate integration with RubyGems’s CDN provider, enabling them to establish a robust foundation for managing their domain and the essential records required for the daily operations of rubygems.org.
We were able to seamlessly onboard our existing DNS resources into our Terraform infrastructure, facilitating the integration and automation of our CDN networks.
— Marty Haught Director of Open Source
The RubyGems team is capable of managing their domain and DNS records more comprehensively, enabling their team to gain a deeper understanding of the impact DNSimple has on the infrastructure that powers rubygems.org, which serves millions of developers globally.
Any advice to other teams tackling similar problems?
Prior to the introduction of the DNSimple Terraform provider, the RubyGems team faced challenges in maintaining consistency across their environments and manually managing DNS records. They recommend avoiding that by investing in an IaC solution, like DNSimple’s Terraform Provider:
Consider investing in automation and infrastructure as code (IaC) solutions early. This approach will enhance consistency, minimize human error, and facilitate predictable and repeatable infrastructure modifications.
— Marty Haught Director of Open Source