AASM - Ruby state machines

This package contains AASM, a library for adding finite state machines to Ruby classes.

AASM started as the acts_as_state_machine plugin but has evolved into a more generic library that no longer targets only ActiveRecord models.

AASM has the following features:

  • States

  • Machines

  • Events

  • Transitions

New Callbacks

The callback chain & order on a successful event looks like:

oldstate:exit*
event:before
__find transition, if possible__
transition:on_transition*
oldstate:before_exit
newstate:before_enter
newstate:enter*
__update state__
event:success*
oldstate:after_exit
newstate:after_enter
event:after
obj:aasm_event_fired*

(*) marks old callbacks

Download

The latest AASM can currently be pulled from the git repository on github.

Installation

From gemcutter

% sudo gem install gemcutter
% sudo gem tumble
% sudo gem install aasm

From GitHub hosted gems (only older releases are available)

% sudo gem sources -a http://gems.github.com # (you only need to do this once)
% sudo gem install rubyist-aasm

Building your own gems

% rake gemspec
% rake build
% sudo gem install pkg/aasm-2.1.gem

Simple Example

Here’s a quick example highlighting some of the features.

class Conversation
  include AASM

  aasm_column :current_state # defaults to aasm_state

  aasm_initial_state :unread

  aasm_state :unread
  aasm_state :read
  aasm_state :closed

  aasm_event :view do
    transitions :to => :read, :from => [:unread]
  end

  aasm_event :close do
    transitions :to => :closed, :from => [:read, :unread]
  end
end

A Slightly More Complex Example

This example uses a few of the more complex features available.

class Relationship
  include AASM

  aasm_column :status

  aasm_initial_state Proc.new { |relationship| relationship.strictly_for_fun? ? :intimate : :dating }

  aasm_state :dating,   :enter => :make_happy,        :exit => :make_depressed
  aasm_state :intimate, :enter => :make_very_happy,   :exit => :never_speak_again
  aasm_state :married,  :enter => :give_up_intimacy,  :exit => :buy_exotic_car_and_wear_a_combover

  aasm_event :get_intimate do
    transitions :to => :intimate, :from => [:dating], :guard => :drunk?
  end

  aasm_event :get_married do
    transitions :to => :married, :from => [:dating, :intimate], :guard => :willing_to_give_up_manhood?
  end

  def strictly_for_fun?; end
  def drunk?; end
  def willing_to_give_up_manhood?; end
  def make_happy; end
  def make_depressed; end
  def make_very_happy; end
  def never_speak_again; end
  def give_up_intimacy; end
  def buy_exotic_car_and_wear_a_combover; end
end

Other Stuff

Author

Scott Barron <scott at elitists dot net>

License

Original code Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008 by Scott Barron. Released under an MIT-style license. See the LICENSE file included in the distribution.

Warranty

This software is provided “as is” and without any express or implied warranties, including, without limitation, the implied warranties of merchantibility and fitness for a particular purpose.