Deploying (almost) with Vlad

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With my "unpublished" code changes done, I would like to deploy them to the beta site. I could update the code by logging into the server and checking out the changes, but something more repeatable, without needing to log into the server is preferable.

I opt to use Vlad the Deployer because it was recently updated to version 2. Besides, I already use Capistrano at the day job. I end up regretting the choice after struggling with the setup.

Following Graham Ashton's instructions for deploying Sinatra applications with vlad, I install vlad:

gem install vlad

Then I update my Rakefile to include:

begin
  require "vlad"
  Vlad.load(:app => nil, :scm => "git")
rescue LoadError
  # do nothing
end

And create config/deploy.rb with the following:

set :application, "eeecooks"
set :repository, "git://github.com/eee-c/eee-code.git"
set :deploy_to, "/var/www/#{application}"
set :domain, "beta.eeecooks.com"

The next step should be to run rake vlad:setup, but, when I do, I get this output:

cstrom@jaynestown:~/repos/eee-code$ rake vlad:setup
(in /home/cstrom/repos/eee-code)
rake aborted!
Please specify the server domain via the :domain variable

(See full trace by running task with --trace)

Wha!? The :domain is clearly set in my deploy.rb. What's going on there? Even the debug task is screwy:

cstrom@jaynestown:~/repos/eee-code$ rake vlad:debug
(in /home/cstrom/repos/eee-code)
rake aborted!
Please specify the deploy path via the :deploy_to variable

(See full trace by running task with --trace)

After more time than I can to admit, I finally realize that Git support has been removed from vlad core. After installing vlad-git via gem install vlad-git, the vlad setup works as desired:

cstrom@jaynestown:~/repos/eee-code$ rake vlad:setup                # Setup your servers.
(in /home/cstrom/repos/eee-code)
cstrom@beta.eeecooks.com's password:
...

And on the beta server:

sh-3.2$ find /var/www/eeecooks/
/var/www/eeecooks/
/var/www/eeecooks/shared
/var/www/eeecooks/shared/log
/var/www/eeecooks/shared/system
/var/www/eeecooks/shared/pids
/var/www/eeecooks/scm
/var/www/eeecooks/releases

I am also able to verify that the vlad:update task is working:

cstrom@jaynestown:~/repos/eee-code$ rake vlad:update
(in /home/cstrom/repos/eee-code)
cstrom@beta.eeecooks.com's password: 
Initialized empty Git repository in /var/www/eeecooks/scm/repo/.git/
Switched to a new branch 'deployed-HEAD'

I still have to get this working with Thin, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.