Question

I`m looking to create two models: trainer & client.

When signing up those two types of models share the basic auth info, such as email & password.

Thus I would like to use Sorcery to do the authentication for me, the gem creates a User model by default.

Searching through StackOverflow I understand I could use Single Table Inheritance, which most people find problematic.

Is there a better/simpler solution for those two types of users to share the basic auth info but be separate models which would contain their role specific data?

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I`m sorry if I mixed things up.

Answer 1

What kind of “role specific data” do your two users have?

I was in a very similar situation as you are in an app that I’m still developing. I chose to use a role based approach using CanCan.

class User < ActiveRecord::Base
  has_one :client_profile # or whatever a client has here
  has_one :trainer_profile # or whatever a trainer has here
end

Then, you would define your abilities

class Ability
  include CanCan::Ability

  def initialize(user)
    user ||= User.new # anonymous user
    if user.is? :trainer
      can :create, TrainerProfile
      # some other trainer specific roles here, like editing his/her profile
    elseif user.is? :client
      can :create, ClientProfile
      # some other client specific roles here, like editing his/her profile
    end
  end
end

Of course, the above code assumes an is? method on the User class to check the user role.

More info on CanCan can be found on the CanCan wiki, and also the Railscast on CanCan.