Open/Closed principle states "software entities (classes, modules, functions, etc.) should be open for extension, but closed for modification"; that is, such an entity can allow its behaviour to be extended without modifying its code.

We may come across a need to run shell commands and Ruby has some built in methods which appear safe, but can introduce major security risks.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we are handling the releases for an important application in our organization, but with each release, a regression/happy path testing must occur. We can use Ruby and Capybara to test these external sites.

As developers, chances are we are in the terminal often. Command Line Interfaces (CLI), are very helpful in streamlining our work. Ruby is a very powerful language and can make some powerful CLIs. Thor is a powerful option, but in this episode, we look at some alternatives from basic to more advanced scenarios.

Learn how to build avatars with initials and conditionally prefer Gravatar images if they exist.