Home/ Questions/Q 590847
In Process

The Archive Base Latest Questions

Editorial Team
  • 0
Asked: 2026-05-13T15:34:22+00:00

I have developed a fully functional ruby-on-rails application which utilizes numerous mysql tables. I

  • 0

I have developed a fully functional ruby-on-rails application which utilizes numerous mysql tables. I would like to turn this into a subscription based service but I have some general, probably basic, conceptual questions:

  1. In a setup such as Basecamp does each user have access to her/his own (as in unique) db tables or are the tables shared with millions of users and Identified by some variable?

  2. If this is the case how well does it scale? What would be the best db to use (mysql, oracle etc)?

  3. If each user is given his/her own unique db tables; how is this accomplished? Is it through a rake task?

  4. Are there any resources you would suggest (books, media, etc) that explain how to accomplish either of these methods?

Thanks!

Share

Leave an answer

You must login to add an answer.

Need An Account,

1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    I believe it is achieved using an overall account. Whereby the resources in your current system will be scoped by that account. i.e in your index actions something like @projects = @account.projects. Looking at basecamp I would say it scales very well! If you hit this problem then you have a good problem to solve, don’t worry about it too much until then. I should image the database is a cluster but very much doubt each user has their own set of tables, that would become a nightmare to manage!

    A quick google and I’ve found a this: http://www.robbyonrails.com/articles/2009/01/11/subdomain-accounts-with-ruby-on-rails-explained which also links to a post by DHH which looks like it explains how they did it.

    There are probably newer write ups but I’m guessing they would be a great place start.

    Good luck!

    • 0