How to Build an MVC Web App from Terminal

Building a (How to Build an MVC web app from the terminal) is a great way to understand the core concepts of web development. MVC stands for Model-View-Controller. It is a design pattern that separates an application into three main components. This makes the code easier to manage and scale. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to create a simple MVC web app using the terminal.

What is MVC?

Before we start, let’s understand what MVC means.

• Model: This handles the data and business logic.
• View: This is what the user sees (the UI).
• Controller: This acts as the middleman between the Model and the View.

Using MVC helps you keep your code organized. It also makes it easier to work in teams.

Prerequisite

To build an MVC web app from the terminal, you need:

1. A computer with a terminal (Linux, macOS, or Windows).
2. A code editor like VS Code or Sublime Text.
3. Basic knowledge of a programming language like Python, Ruby, or JavaScript.
4. A framework that supports MVC (e.g., Django, Ruby on Rails, or Express.js).

Step 1: Choose a Framework

Frameworks make it easier to build MVC web apps. Here are some popular ones:

• Django (Python)
• Ruby on Rails (Ruby)
• Express.js (JavaScript)

For this guide, we will use Ruby on Rails as an example. It is beginner-friendly and widely used.

Step 2: Install Ruby and Rails

To build an MVC web app from the terminal, you need to install Ruby and Rails.

1. Open your terminal.
2. Install Ruby:

   sudo apt-get install ruby-full

3. Install Rails:

   gem install rails

Check if the installation was successful:

rails --version

Step 3: Create a New Rails App

Now, let’s create a new Rails app.

1. Navigate to the folder where you want to create the app.
2. Run this command:

   rails new my_mvc_app

Replace my_mvc_app with your app’s name.

This command creates a new folder with all the necessary files for your MVC web app.

Step 4: Understand the Folder Structure

After creating the app, you will see a folder structure like this:

• app/models: Contains the Model files.
• app/views: Contains the View files (HTML templates).
• app/controllers: Contains the Controller files.
• config: Contains configuration files.
• db: Contains database-related files.

This structure is the backbone of your MVC web app.

Step 5: Generate a Controller and View

Let’s create a simple page for your app.

1. Generate a controller:

   rails generate controller Welcome index

This creates a Welcome controller with an index action.

2. Open the app/views/welcome/index.html.erb file.
3. Add some HTML code:

   <h1>Welcome to My MVC App</h1>
   <p>This is the homepage.</p>

Step 6: Set Up Routes

Routes tell your app which page to display.

1. Open the config/routes.rb file.
2. Add this line:

   root 'welcome#index'

This sets the homepage to the index action of the Welcome controller.

Step 7: Run the Server

Now, let’s see your app in action.

1. Start the server:

   rails server

2. Open your browser and go to http://localhost:3000.
3. You should see your homepage.

Congratulations! You have built a basic MVC web app from the terminal.

Step 8: Add a Model

To make your app more functional, let’s add a Model.

1. Generate a Model:

   rails generate model Post title:string content:text

This creates a Post model with a title and content.

2. Run the migration to create the database table:

   rails db:migrate

Step 9: Connect the Model, View, and Controller

1. Create a controller for the Post model:

   rails generate controller Posts

2. Add actions like index, show, and new to the controller.
3. Create views for these actions in the app/views/posts folder.

Now, your MVC web app is fully functional.

Step 10: Deploy Your App

Once your app is ready, you can deploy it. Popular options include Heroku, AWS, or DigitalOcean.

1. Install the Heroku CLI:

   sudo snap install heroku --classic

2. Log in to Heroku:

   heroku login

3. Deploy your app:

   git push heroku main

Conclusion

Building an MVC web app from the terminal is not as hard as it seems. By following these steps, you can create a fully functional app. Remember to keep your code organized and test it regularly. Happy coding!

By following this guide, you have learned how to build an MVC web app from the terminal. This skill is essential for any web developer. Keep practicing, and you will master it in no time.