Ruby Starter Kit Yeoman Generator

0.2.39 verified Thu Apr 23 auth: no javascript abandoned

This package, `generator-ruby-starter-kit`, version 0.2.39, is a Yeoman generator designed to scaffold Ruby application boilerplate. It provides a pre-configured setup including popular Ruby development tools such as Bundler for dependency management, Guard for automated task running, ActiveSupport Logger for logging, Rubocop for code style enforcement, RSpec and WebMock for testing, and integration with Travis CI and CodeClimate for continuous integration and code quality analysis. Its main differentiator is the rapid provisioning of a structured Ruby project with a common set of development practices and tools integrated out-of-the-box. The project's last release was in August 2017, indicating a very slow or ceased release cadence. This makes it suitable for understanding historical Ruby project setups rather than modern development, as many of its bundled tools and configurations are likely outdated.

Common errors

error yo: command not found ↓

cause The Yeoman CLI tool (`yo`) has not been installed globally or is not in the system's PATH.

fix

Install yo globally using npm: npm install -g yo.

error Error: Cannot find module 'generator-ruby-starter-kit' ↓

cause The `generator-ruby-starter-kit` package, which is a Yeoman generator, has not been installed globally.

fix

Install the generator globally: npm install -g generator-ruby-starter-kit.

error Your Ruby version is X.Y.Z, but your Gemfile specified 2.3.1 ↓

cause The generated Gemfile contains `ruby '2.3.1'`, which does not match the Ruby version currently active on your system.

fix

Either switch to Ruby 2.3.1 using a version manager (rvm use 2.3.1 or rbenv local 2.3.1) or update the ruby '2.3.1' line in the generated Gemfile to match your current Ruby version (e.g., ruby '3.x.x') and then run bundle install.

error ERROR: 'rake' is not part of the bundle. Add it to your Gemfile. ↓

cause A command (e.g., `guard` or `bin/app.rb`) is trying to execute a Ruby gem that is not explicitly listed in the generated `Gemfile` or that `bundle exec` cannot find due to environmental issues.

fix

Ensure all necessary gems are in the Gemfile. If bundle install was skipped or failed, run it. If it's a generated script trying to use an unbundled executable, prefix the command with bundle exec (e.g., bundle exec guard).

Warnings

breaking The generator explicitly suggests installing Ruby 2.3.1. Ruby 2.3 series reached End-of-Life (EOL) in March 2019 and is no longer supported. Using modern Ruby versions (e.g., 3.x) with the generated project will likely cause numerous syntax errors, deprecated feature warnings, and gem compatibility issues. ↓

fix It is highly recommended to manually update the generated Gemfile and Ruby code to be compatible with a currently supported Ruby version (e.g., Ruby 3.x), or use a Ruby version manager (like RVM or rbenv) to switch to Ruby 2.3.1 for legacy compatibility only.

gotcha This generator's last update was in 2017. Newer versions of the `yo` (Yeoman CLI) tool, which has been actively maintained and updated (latest `yo` version is 7.0.1 as of April 2026), may have breaking changes in its API or internal workings that could prevent this older generator from functioning correctly or at all. ↓

fix If encountering issues, try installing an older version of the `yo` package globally, or consult the `yeoman-generator` release notes for potential compatibility breaking changes. If the generator fails to run, it might be fundamentally incompatible with current Yeoman tooling.

gotcha The generated Ruby project's `Gemfile` will specify very old gem versions, reflecting the project's last update in 2017. These outdated dependencies are highly likely to contain known security vulnerabilities, introduce compatibility problems with newer Ruby runtimes or system libraries, and lack modern features. ↓

fix Immediately after generating the project, run `bundle update` to update all gems to their latest compatible versions. Thoroughly review `Gemfile.lock` for significant version jumps and check individual gem documentation for breaking changes. Consider using `bundle audit` to identify known vulnerabilities.

deprecated The `generator-ruby-starter-kit` package has not been updated since August 2017, indicating it is no longer actively maintained. While the basic scaffolding might still work, it will not receive updates for bug fixes, security vulnerabilities, or compatibility with newer versions of Node.js, Ruby, or the various included development tools (Bundler, RSpec, Rubocop, etc.). ↓

fix For new Ruby projects, consider creating a boilerplate manually, using a more recently updated Ruby template, or exploring other actively maintained Yeoman generators for different ecosystems if they align with your needs.

Install

npm install generator-ruby-starter-kit

yarn add generator-ruby-starter-kit

pnpm add generator-ruby-starter-kit

Imports

yo
wrong
```
import yo from 'yo'
```
correct
```
npm install -g yo
```
Yeoman (`yo`) is a command-line tool, not a JavaScript module for programmatic import. It must be installed globally.
generator-ruby-starter-kit
wrong
```
require('generator-ruby-starter-kit')
```
correct
```
npm install -g generator-ruby-starter-kit
```
This package is a Yeoman generator and is installed globally, then invoked via the `yo` CLI. It does not expose a JavaScript API for direct `import` or `require`.
Running the generator
wrong
```
node node_modules/generator-ruby-starter-kit
```
correct
```
yo ruby-starter-kit
```
After global installation, the generator is executed by calling `yo` followed by the generator's short name (which is derived from the package name, `generator-ruby-starter-kit` becomes `ruby-starter-kit`).

Quickstart

Installs Yeoman and the Ruby Starter Kit generator, then creates a new Ruby project and demonstrates basic commands for running the generated application and its development environment.

npm install -g yo generator-ruby-starter-kit

mkdir my-ruby-app
cd my-ruby-app

yo ruby-starter-kit

# Follow the prompts to set up your project

# Once generated, run the app entry point
# repo=octokit.py bin/app.rb

# Or start the guard dev environment tool
# guard