How to initialize an Active Record attribute in after_initialize?

Question

user.rb

after_initialize :init

private

    def init
        self.name ||= 'Bob'
    end

irb

irb> User.select('id')
(Object doesn't support #inspect)

If I change the callback to before_validation then the above query works.

Ideally I would like to be able to keep the initialization in after_initialize. Is there a way to achieve this?

I would prefer not to have to override the initialize method.

Have you tried doing just e.g., User.first? I don't know if select actually (or fully) instantiates an AR::Base object... — Jacob Brown
– Jacob Brown, Commented Dec 20, 2014 at 23:15
What exactly are you trying to do that makes you think after_initialize is a solution? — mu is too short
– mu is too short, Commented Dec 20, 2014 at 23:17

roob · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-21 00:19:12Z

-1

The posted code is trying to set the name every time a user is instantiated (such as User.new, User.first, User.all )

If you intend to save the record with name = "Bob" when name is nil, do it in before_validation, or after_validation.

If you intend to merely return "Bob" when name is nil, do it in the getter:

  def name
    @name ||= "Bob"
  end

answered Dec 21, 2014 at 0:19

roob

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2 Comments

roob Over a year ago

Why the negative vote? I'll like to understand if I misunderstood the question, my answer is wrong, what I said is wrong or it is against the rules or ?

user664833 Over a year ago

Thanks for your answer. I have yet to determine whether your answer will be suitable in my situation. Anyway, I didn't downvote - and I hate it when people downvote without writing their reasoning in a comment.

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