I just inherited code that I’m attempting to run the migrations for but I

Question

0

Asked: June 12, 20262026-06-12T10:07:23+00:00 2026-06-12T10:07:23+00:00

I just inherited code that I’m attempting to run the migrations for but I

0

I just inherited code that I’m attempting to run the migrations for but I keep getting a rake aborted error. I’ve come across others that have what appears to be similar issues, but most involved Heroku and I’m trying to run this locally (to start.)

I’ve tried troubleshooting using both PostgreSQL and SQLite, and both produce the same issue. The table “roles” referenced is the second migration called, so I’m having a hard time figuring out what is causing it to not get built. Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Here’s the roles migration:

class CreateRoles < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def change
    create_table :roles do |t|
      t.string :name

      t.timestamps
    end
  end
end

Here is the trace for SQLite:

** Invoke db:migrate (first_time)
** Invoke environment (first_time)
** Execute environment
rake aborted!
Could not find table 'roles'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/sqlite_adapter.rb:470:in `table_structure'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/sqlite_adapter.rb:351:in `columns'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/schema_cache.rb:12:in `block in initialize'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:228:in `yield'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:228:in `default'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:228:in `columns'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:248:in `column_names'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:261:in `column_methods_hash'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/dynamic_matchers.rb:69:in `all_attributes_exists?'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/dynamic_matchers.rb:27:in `method_missing'
/Users/sa/Documents/AptanaWorkspace/recprototype/config/initializ
ers/constants.rb:1:in `<top (required)>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:245:in `load'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:245:in `block in load'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:236:in `load_dependency'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:245:in `load'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/engi
ne.rb:588:in `block (2 levels) in <class:Engine>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/engi
ne.rb:587:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/engi
ne.rb:587:in `block in <class:Engine>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:30:in `instance_exec'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:30:in `run'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:55:in `block in run_initializers'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:54:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:54:in `run_initializers'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/appl
ication.rb:136:in `initialize!'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/rail
tie/configurable.rb:30:in `method_missing'
/Users/sa/Documents/AptanaWorkspace/recprototype/config/environme
nt.rb:5:in `<top (required)>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:251:in `require'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:251:in `block in require'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:236:in `load_dependency'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:251:in `require'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/appl
ication.rb:103:in `require_environment!'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/appl
ication.rb:292:in `block (2 levels) in initialize_tasks'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:205:in `call'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:205:in `block in execute'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:200:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:200:in `execute'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:158:in `block in invoke_with_call_chain'
/Users/sa/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p318/lib/ruby/1.9.1/monitor.rb:201:in
 `mon_synchronize'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:151:in `invoke_with_call_chain'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:176:in `block in invoke_prerequisites'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:174:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:174:in `invoke_prerequisites'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:157:in `block in invoke_with_call_chain'
/Users/sa/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p318/lib/ruby/1.9.1/monitor.rb:201:in
 `mon_synchronize'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:151:in `invoke_with_call_chain'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:144:in `invoke'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:116:in `invoke_task'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:94:in `block (2 levels) in top_level'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:94:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:94:in `block in top_level'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:133:in `standard_exception_handling'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:88:in `top_level'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:66:in `block in run'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:133:in `standard_exception_handling'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:63:in `run'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/bin/rake:33:in `
<top (required)>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/bin/rake:19:in `load'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/bin/rake:19:in `<main>'
Tasks: TOP => db:migrate => environment

Here is the trace for PostgreSQL:

** Invoke db:migrate (first_time)
** Invoke environment (first_time)
** Execute environment
rake aborted!
PG::Error: ERROR:  relation "roles" does not exist
LINE 4:              WHERE a.attrelid = '"roles"'::regclass
                                        ^
:             SELECT a.attname, format_type(a.atttypid, a.atttypmod), d.adsrc, a
.attnotnull
              FROM pg_attribute a LEFT JOIN pg_attrdef d
                ON a.attrelid = d.adrelid AND a.attnum = d.adnum
             WHERE a.attrelid = '"roles"'::regclass
               AND a.attnum > 0 AND NOT a.attisdropped
             ORDER BY a.attnum
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:1106:in `async_exec'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:1106:in `exec_no_cache'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:650:in `block in exec_query'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/abstract_adapter.rb:280:in `block in log'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/notifications/instrumenter.rb:20:in `instrument'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/abstract_adapter.rb:275:in `log'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:649:in `exec_query'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:1231:in `column_definitions'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:845:in `columns'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/connection_adapters/schema_cache.rb:12:in `block in initialize'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:228:in `yield'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:228:in `default'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:228:in `columns'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:248:in `column_names'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/model_schema.rb:261:in `column_methods_hash'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/dynamic_matchers.rb:69:in `all_attributes_exists?'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activerecord-3.2.1/lib/active
_record/dynamic_matchers.rb:27:in `method_missing'
/Users/sa/Documents/AptanaWorkspace/recprototype/config/initializ
ers/constants.rb:1:in `<top (required)>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:245:in `load'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:245:in `block in load'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:236:in `load_dependency'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:245:in `load'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/engi
ne.rb:588:in `block (2 levels) in <class:Engine>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/engi
ne.rb:587:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/engi
ne.rb:587:in `block in <class:Engine>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:30:in `instance_exec'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:30:in `run'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:55:in `block in run_initializers'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:54:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/init
ializable.rb:54:in `run_initializers'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/appl
ication.rb:136:in `initialize!'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/rail
tie/configurable.rb:30:in `method_missing'
/Users/sa/Documents/AptanaWorkspace/recprototype/config/environme
nt.rb:5:in `<top (required)>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:251:in `require'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:251:in `block in require'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:236:in `load_dependency'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/activesupport-3.2.1/lib/activ
e_support/dependencies.rb:251:in `require'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/appl
ication.rb:103:in `require_environment!'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/railties-3.2.1/lib/rails/appl
ication.rb:292:in `block (2 levels) in initialize_tasks'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:205:in `call'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:205:in `block in execute'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:200:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:200:in `execute'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:158:in `block in invoke_with_call_chain'
/Users/sa/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p318/lib/ruby/1.9.1/monitor.rb:201:in
 `mon_synchronize'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:151:in `invoke_with_call_chain'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:176:in `block in invoke_prerequisites'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:174:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:174:in `invoke_prerequisites'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:157:in `block in invoke_with_call_chain'
/Users/sa/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p318/lib/ruby/1.9.1/monitor.rb:201:in
 `mon_synchronize'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:151:in `invoke_with_call_chain'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/task.rb
:144:in `invoke'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:116:in `invoke_task'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:94:in `block (2 levels) in top_level'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:94:in `each'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:94:in `block in top_level'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:133:in `standard_exception_handling'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:88:in `top_level'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:66:in `block in run'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:133:in `standard_exception_handling'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/lib/rake/applica
tion.rb:63:in `run'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/gems/rake-0.9.2.2/bin/rake:33:in `
<top (required)>'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/bin/rake:19:in `load'
/Users/sa/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p318/bin/rake:19:in `<main>'
Tasks: TOP => db:migrate => environment

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1 Answer

Editorial Team · Answer 1 · 2026-06-12T10:07:24+00:00

It appears that config/initializers/constants.rb is doing something to the Role class that requires the roles table to be present. When you run migrations initialisers are loaded as normal, so your app blows up because the table doesn’t exist yet.

It’s likely that the developer that added this dependency on the roles table existing did so after the roles table was created on their machine.

You could

try loading the schema instead of running migration rake db:schema:load assuming schema.rb was checked in. This won’t work if loading the schema loads initialisers – I can’t remember if this is the case
restore the database from a SQL dump
comment out the offending code (or bracket it with a test that the table exists), and run migrations/load schema – it’s unlikely that whatever is being done is essential for running migrations. If commenting out that code produces more failures use source control to restore the app to the point such after the migration was initially checked in, where hopefully any such issues would be easier to untangle

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I just inherited code that I’m attempting to run the migrations for but I

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