Add improvement planning documentation for React on Rails #1948
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This PR adds strategic planning documents that outline the roadmap for incremental improvements to React on Rails: 1. IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md - Summary of smart error messages implementation - Details the SmartError class features - Explains auto-bundling priority in error messages - Documents debug mode capabilities - Shows before/after examples of error improvements 2. REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md - Comprehensive improvement roadmap - 8 phases of incremental improvements - Practical, achievable baby steps to match/exceed Inertia Rails - Each phase includes effort estimates and impact assessments - Covers DX improvements, Rspack integration, RSC enhancements, and more These documents provide valuable context for the smart error messages feature that was recently implemented and serve as a roadmap for future enhancements to the gem. 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude <[email protected]>
WalkthroughAdds richer error/reporting tooling and debug options: two new Ruby error classes (SmartError, PrerenderError), JS debug logging via ReactOnRails.setOptions({ debugMode, logComponentRegistration }), TypeScript types, tests, docs, and a multi‑phase roadmap document. Changes
Sequence Diagram(s)sequenceDiagram
participant Dev as Developer
participant App as React on Rails App
participant Registry as ComponentRegistry
participant SmartError as SmartError/PrerenderError
participant Logger as DebugLogger
participant Console as Console/Logs
Dev->>App: setOptions({debugMode: true, logComponentRegistration: true})
App->>Registry: Register component
Registry->>Logger: Log name, size, timing, outcome
alt registration error or render error
Registry->>SmartError: Raise categorized error
SmartError->>Console: Emit colored, contextual message + suggestions
else success
Logger->>Console: Emit registration metrics
end
Estimated code review effort🎯 4 (Complex) | ⏱️ ~45 minutes
Possibly related PRs
Suggested Reviewers
Poem
Pre-merge checks and finishing touches✅ Passed checks (3 passed)
✨ Finishing touches
🧪 Generate unit tests (beta)
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🧹 Nitpick comments (2)
REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md (1)
29-29: Fix markdown heading formatting for consistency and linting compliance.The markdown linter flags emphasis patterns at these lines as
MD036violations (emphasis used instead of a heading). While these underscores emphasize the phase descriptions, they should be converted to proper markdown headings for compliance:
- Line 29:
_Quick wins...→### Quick wins...- Line 107:
_Improvements that...→### Improvements that...- Line 211:
_Maximize the benefits...→### Maximize the benefits...- Line 316:
_Enhance the upcoming...→### Enhance the upcoming...- Line 415:
_Add key features...→### Add key features...- Line 532:
_Make it easier...→### Make it easier...- Line 654:
_Small improvements...→### Small improvements...- Line 756:
_Make testing easier...→### Make testing easier...-_Quick wins that improve developer experience immediately_ +### Quick wins that improve developer experience immediately -_Improvements that make daily development smoother_ +### Improvements that make daily development smoother -_Maximize the benefits of upcoming Rspack support_ +### Maximize the benefits of upcoming Rspack support -_Enhance the upcoming RSC support_ +### Enhance the upcoming RSC support -_Add key features that competitors offer_ +### Add key features that competitors offer -_Make it easier to learn and adopt_ +### Make it easier to learn and adopt -_Small improvements with big impact_ +### Small improvements with big impact -_Make testing easier and more reliable_ +### Make testing easier and more reliableAlso applies to: 107-107, 211-211, 316-316, 415-415, 532-532, 654-654, 756-756
IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md (1)
123-123: Remove redundant intensifier in "completely eliminates" phrase.The phrase "which completely eliminates" is redundant; the verb "eliminates" already conveys total removal. Simplify to improve conciseness.
-which completely eliminates the need for manual component registration. This is a significant improvement because: +which eliminates the need for manual component registration. This is a significant improvement because:
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📒 Files selected for processing (2)
IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md(1 hunks)REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md(1 hunks)
🧰 Additional context used
🧠 Learnings (9)
📓 Common learnings
Learnt from: alexeyr-ci
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1644
File: node_package/src/ReactOnRailsRSC.ts:87-87
Timestamp: 2024-12-12T13:07:09.929Z
Learning: When handling errors in 'node_package/src/ReactOnRailsRSC.ts', include the error stack in error messages in development and test environments to aid debugging.
Learnt from: AbanoubGhadban
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1875
File: lib/react_on_rails/utils.rb:112-124
Timestamp: 2025-10-23T17:22:01.074Z
Learning: In React on Rails, when Pro is installed but not licensed, the intended behavior is to raise an error on boot. The `react_on_rails_pro?` method validates licenses and should raise errors early (including during path resolution in methods like `server_bundle?`) to enforce licensing requirements rather than failing later with obscure errors.
Learnt from: AbanoubGhadban
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1696
File: node_package/src/RSCPayloadGenerator.ts:124-168
Timestamp: 2025-06-09T07:58:02.646Z
Learning: In React Server Components (RSC) implementations, explicit error handling in RSC payload generation streams (like in RSCPayloadGenerator.ts) is not needed because errors will propagate to client components that fetch the RSC payloads (such as RSCRoute components). React's built-in error handling mechanisms and ErrorBoundary components are sufficient for handling these errors at the component level, which allows for better user experience with appropriate error UI fallbacks.
📚 Learning: 2025-04-26T21:55:55.874Z
Learnt from: alexeyr-ci2
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1732
File: spec/dummy/client/app-react16/startup/ReduxSharedStoreApp.client.jsx:40-44
Timestamp: 2025-04-26T21:55:55.874Z
Learning: In the react_on_rails project, files under `app-react16` directories are copied/moved to corresponding `/app` directories during the conversion process (removing the `-react16` suffix), which affects their relative import paths at runtime.
Applied to files:
REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md
📚 Learning: 2025-09-16T08:01:11.146Z
Learnt from: justin808
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1770
File: lib/generators/react_on_rails/templates/base/base/app/javascript/src/HelloWorld/ror_components/HelloWorld.client.jsx:2-2
Timestamp: 2025-09-16T08:01:11.146Z
Learning: React on Rails uses webpack CSS Modules configuration with namedExports: true, which requires the import syntax `import * as style from './file.module.css'` rather than the default export pattern. This configuration enables better tree shaking and bundle size optimization for CSS modules.
Applied to files:
REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md
📚 Learning: 2025-02-12T16:38:06.537Z
Learnt from: Romex91
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1697
File: package-scripts.yml:28-28
Timestamp: 2025-02-12T16:38:06.537Z
Learning: The file `node_package/lib/ReactOnRails.full.js` is autogenerated during the build process and should not be present in the repository.
Applied to files:
REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md
📚 Learning: 2025-07-08T05:57:29.630Z
Learnt from: AbanoubGhadban
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1745
File: node_package/src/RSCRequestTracker.ts:8-14
Timestamp: 2025-07-08T05:57:29.630Z
Learning: The global `generateRSCPayload` function in React on Rails Pro (RORP) is provided by the framework during rendering requests, not implemented in application code. The `declare global` statements are used to document the expected interface that RORP will inject at runtime.
Applied to files:
REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md
📚 Learning: 2025-02-13T16:50:47.848Z
Learnt from: AbanoubGhadban
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1644
File: node_package/src/clientStartup.ts:18-21
Timestamp: 2025-02-13T16:50:47.848Z
Learning: In the react_on_rails module, the `reactOnRailsPageUnloaded` function in clientStartup.ts is intentionally kept private as it's only used internally as a callback for `onPageUnloaded`.
Applied to files:
REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md
📚 Learning: 2025-02-18T13:08:01.477Z
Learnt from: AbanoubGhadban
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1644
File: lib/react_on_rails/helper.rb:190-197
Timestamp: 2025-02-18T13:08:01.477Z
Learning: RSC support validation in React on Rails Pro is handled through a chain of validations:
1. Pro version check in `run_stream_inside_fiber`
2. RSC support check during pack generation via `ReactOnRailsPro.configuration.enable_rsc_support`
3. RSC support validation during component registration
This makes additional validation in the helper methods unnecessary.
Applied to files:
REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md
📚 Learning: 2024-12-12T13:07:09.929Z
Learnt from: alexeyr-ci
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1644
File: node_package/src/ReactOnRailsRSC.ts:87-87
Timestamp: 2024-12-12T13:07:09.929Z
Learning: When handling errors in 'node_package/src/ReactOnRailsRSC.ts', include the error stack in error messages in development and test environments to aid debugging.
Applied to files:
IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md
📚 Learning: 2025-10-23T17:22:01.074Z
Learnt from: AbanoubGhadban
Repo: shakacode/react_on_rails PR: 1875
File: lib/react_on_rails/utils.rb:112-124
Timestamp: 2025-10-23T17:22:01.074Z
Learning: In React on Rails, when Pro is installed but not licensed, the intended behavior is to raise an error on boot. The `react_on_rails_pro?` method validates licenses and should raise errors early (including during path resolution in methods like `server_bundle?`) to enforce licensing requirements rather than failing later with obscure errors.
Applied to files:
IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md
🪛 LanguageTool
IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md
[style] ~123-~123: This phrase is redundant. Consider writing “eliminates”.
Context: ...n Rails' auto-bundling feature**, which completely eliminates the need for manual component registrat...
(COMPLETELY_ANNIHILATE)
🪛 markdownlint-cli2 (0.18.1)
REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.md
29-29: Emphasis used instead of a heading
(MD036, no-emphasis-as-heading)
107-107: Emphasis used instead of a heading
(MD036, no-emphasis-as-heading)
211-211: Emphasis used instead of a heading
(MD036, no-emphasis-as-heading)
316-316: Emphasis used instead of a heading
(MD036, no-emphasis-as-heading)
415-415: Emphasis used instead of a heading
(MD036, no-emphasis-as-heading)
532-532: Emphasis used instead of a heading
(MD036, no-emphasis-as-heading)
654-654: Emphasis used instead of a heading
(MD036, no-emphasis-as-heading)
756-756: Emphasis used instead of a heading
(MD036, no-emphasis-as-heading)
🔇 Additional comments (3)
IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md (3)
1-74: Clarify scope: does this document describe changes already merged or changes in this PR?Lines 9–74 describe changes made to multiple files (SmartError, PrerenderError, TypeScript types, tests, documentation). However, the PR objectives state that this PR only adds the two documentation files and that core functionality from PR #1834 has already been merged.
Verify:
- Are the files listed in this section actually included in the current PR diff, or are they pre-merged?
- If pre-merged, the document should clarify this to avoid reader confusion about what scope this PR covers.
- If included in this PR, they should be present in the file list.
Per the PR objectives: "The files are planning/strategy documents (not functional code) and were extracted from PR #1834, whose core functionality has already been merged." Consider adding a brief clarification at the start of the "Changes Made" section to avoid ambiguity, e.g.:
### Changes Made (from PR #1834) The following changes were implemented as part of the Phase 1 improvements (details in PR #1834):
159-166: Address testing limitation note for clarity.The note at lines 161–165 states that full testing was not completed due to Ruby 2.6 constraints, but mentions that "JavaScript builds successfully" and "tests are provided for validation."
Clarify:
- Were the JavaScript tests actually executed, or is this aspirational?
- If tests were not run, should this document omit references to test files (
spec/react_on_rails/smart_error_spec.rb,node_package/tests/debugLogging.test.js), or should the note be more explicit about which tests were/weren't validated?Consider updating the Testing section to be more explicit:
## Testing - JavaScript code builds successfully - Ruby tests (`spec/react_on_rails/smart_error_spec.rb`) — provided but not executed due to Ruby version constraints (project requires 3.0+, system has 2.6) - JavaScript tests (`node_package/tests/debugLogging.test.js`) — provided but not executed in this environment - Code structure follows existing patterns and is ready for CI validationThis avoids the impression that full validation has occurred.
85-119: Before/after example is clear and illustrative.The example at lines 87–119 effectively demonstrates the improvement and prioritizes auto-bundling as the recommended path, which aligns well with the "Key Innovation" section and Phase 1 goals. The error message is actionable and concrete.
Pull Request Review: Add improvement planning documentationOverall AssessmentThis PR adds strategic planning documentation that outlines the roadmap for incremental improvements to React on Rails. The documentation is well-structured, comprehensive, and valuable for maintainers and contributors. Strengths1. Excellent Documentation Structure
2. Strategic Value
3. Technical Quality
Areas for Improvement1. CHANGELOG ConsiderationsAccording to
Recommendation: Verify whether a CHANGELOG entry should be added for this PR. Since these are planning docs (not user-visible features), they likely don't need a changelog entry. 2. File Naming and LocationCurrent: Root-level files Consider:
3. Minor Documentation IssuesIMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.mdLine 156-157: References "Due to Ruby version constraints" and incomplete testing: Due to Ruby version constraints on the system (Ruby 2.6, project requires 3.0+),
full testing wasn't completed, but:Issue: This appears to be leftover context from the original PR #1834 where the feature was implemented. Since this PR only adds documentation (not implementation), this section seems out of place. Recommendation: Either remove this section or clarify that it refers to the original implementation in PR #1834. REACT_ON_RAILS_IMPROVEMENTS.mdLine 45: Error message example references "auto-bundling" but the code comment mentions this is an updated version: #### After (Updated with Auto-Bundling Priority):Consideration: Ensure all examples are current and reflect the actual state of the codebase, or clearly mark them as "proposed future state." 4. Formatting CompliancePer
Action Required: Verify both 5. Cross-References and LinkingEnhancement Opportunity: Add internal links between related sections. For example:
6. Versioning and Timeline UpdatesFuture Consideration: These documents include specific timelines (Week 1-2, Week 3-4, etc.) and reference features as "coming soon." As work progresses:
Security ConsiderationsNo security concerns identified. These are planning documents only. Performance ConsiderationsNot applicable - documentation only. Test CoverageNot applicable - documentation only. However, note that the documents reference tests that should accompany the actual implementations of these features. Code QualityDocumentation Best Practices ✅
Markdown Quality ✅
Recommendations SummaryMust Do Before Merge
Should Consider
Nice to Have
ConclusionThis is a high-quality strategic planning document that will provide valuable guidance for the React on Rails project. The incremental approach is sound, the prioritization is clear, and the roadmap is comprehensive. The main concerns are minor organizational and cleanup issues rather than fundamental problems with the content. Once the "Must Do" items are addressed, this PR should be ready to merge. Overall Verdict: ✅ Approve with minor suggestions Great work on planning these improvements! The vision for making React on Rails more competitive and developer-friendly is well-articulated. |
Code Review: Documentation PR #1948OverviewThis PR adds strategic planning and improvement documentation for React on Rails. Since these are documentation files rather than functional code, I'll focus on documentation quality, accuracy, and value to the project. ✅ Strengths1. Excellent Strategic Value
2. Comprehensive Coverage
3. Well-Organized Structure
4. Practical Focus
📝 Suggestions for Improvement1. Documentation Placement (Minor)These strategy documents are placed in the repository root. Consider:
Rationale: Root-level placement suggests these are user documentation, but they're really internal planning docs for maintainers/contributors. 2. Link to Implementation Status (Enhancement)Add a tracking mechanism: ## Implementation Status
| Phase | Item | Status | PR | Notes |
|-------|------|--------|-----|-------|
| 1.1 | Better Error Messages | ✅ Completed | #1834 | Shipped in v16.0 |
| 1.2 | Enhanced Doctor Command | 🚧 In Progress | #xxxx | |
| 1.3 | Component Registration Debugging | 📋 Planned | - | |Benefit: Makes it easy to track progress and avoid duplication. 3. Version Targeting (Clarification)Specify which versions these improvements target:
Example: ### 5.2 TypeScript Model Generation
**Effort**: 3 days
**Impact**: High
**Target Version**: v16.5 (Open Source)
**Breaking Change**: No4. Testing Requirements (Documentation)In IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md line 157:
This is confusing in a planning document. Consider:
5. Competitor Analysis (Enhancement)While the doc mentions Inertia Rails and Vite Ruby, consider adding: ## Competitive Analysis
| Feature | React on Rails | Inertia.js | Vite Ruby | Notes |
|---------|----------------|------------|-----------|-------|
| Auto Props Serialization | ❌ Planned (5.1) | ✅ | N/A | High priority gap |
| TypeScript Generation | ❌ Planned (5.2) | ✅ | N/A | Medium priority |
| Build Speed | ⚠️ (✅ with Rspack) | ✅ | ✅ | Rspack closes gap |Benefit: Makes competitive gaps more visible and validates priorities. 🔍 Content Accuracy ReviewTechnical Accuracy✅ All code examples are syntactically correct Feasibility Assessment✅ Effort estimates seem realistic (2-4 days per feature) 🎯 Value AssessmentFor Contributors✅ Clear guidance on what to work on next For Users/Adopters
For Project Leadership✅ Strategic planning framework 🚀 Recommended Next Steps
✅ Final RecommendationAPPROVE with minor suggestions This PR adds valuable strategic documentation that will guide React on Rails development. The suggestions above are enhancements, not blockers. The documents are:
The only considerations are:
No blocking issues found. This documentation will be valuable for the project's future direction. 📋 Checklist CompliancePer CLAUDE.md requirements:
Great work on documenting the strategic vision! 🎉 |
LinkedIn returns 999 status codes for automated link checkers, causing false positives in CI. This is a well-known LinkedIn anti-bot behavior and should be ignored. This fixes the failing markdown-link-check workflow. 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude <[email protected]>
…nstead This roadmap document is better suited as a GitHub issue/discussion rather than a file in the repository. It outlines strategic planning and future improvements that would benefit from community discussion. 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude <[email protected]>
Code Review: PR #1948Overall AssessmentThis PR adds strategic planning documentation for React on Rails. The documentation is well-structured and provides valuable context. Overall, this is a strong addition with only minor suggestions. Positive Aspects
Suggestions1. Documentation Accuracy (High Priority)IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md references files that don't exist in this PR:
Since this is documentation-only, consider clarifying these reference PR #1834 implementation, not this PR. 2. Testing Section (Medium Priority)Lines 159-165 mention Ruby version constraints and incomplete testing - confusing for a planning doc. Consider removing or clarifying. 3. Minor Formatting
Potential IssuesNone - documentation only, no code/security/performance concerns RecommendationApprove with minor revisions to clarify IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md scope. Great work documenting the strategic vision! |
Pull Request ReviewThank you for documenting the smart error messages implementation! This is a valuable addition to the repository. Here's my feedback: ✅ Strengths
📝 Issues Found1. Incorrect PR reference in PR body (High Priority)The PR body states:
However, PR #1834 was closed but NOT merged (mergedAt is null). The actual merged PR was #1934 ("feat: Add Ruby-side smart error messages", merged on 2025-11-07). Action needed: Update the PR description to reference #1934 instead of #1834. 2. Inaccurate claim about feature implementationLine 161-162 states:
This suggests the feature wasn't fully tested, which contradicts the fact that:
Recommendation: Either remove lines 159-166 (the "Testing" section) or update it to accurately reflect that this is documentation of an already-merged and tested feature, not a new implementation. 3. Missing CHANGELOG entry?According to CLAUDE.md:
Since this PR only adds documentation (IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md) and doesn't change functionality, no CHANGELOG entry is needed per the project guidelines. This is correct as-is. 🤔 Questions & Suggestions
🔒 Security & Performance
🧪 Test Coverage
📋 Action ItemsMust fix before merge:
Consider addressing: Overall, this is good documentation work that will help developers understand the smart error messages feature. The main concerns are factual accuracy in the references and the overall documentation structure. Would you like me to help update the PR description or restructure the documentation? |
The implementation details are already documented in: - The actual merged code in lib/react_on_rails/smart_error.rb - The user guide at docs/guides/improved-error-messages.md - The original PR #1834 commit messages No need for a separate summary document. 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude <[email protected]>
|
Closing this PR. The LinkedIn link fix has been incorporated, and all documentation has been properly organized:
The only remaining change (LinkedIn ignore in markdown-link-check) will be submitted in a separate focused PR. |
Summary
This PR adds the implementation summary document from PR #1834 that details the smart error messages feature that was recently merged.
File Added
IMPROVEMENT_SUMMARY.md
Summary of the smart error messages implementation:
Related
Purpose
This document provides implementation context for the smart error messages feature, serving as:
🤖 Generated with Claude Code
This change is