From: paul h <paul@...>
Date: 2011-06-12T23:05:27+09:00
Subject: Interacting with Git

Hi all,

I need to interact with Git via Ruby on my server and hope someone can
point me in the right direction.

This is the env I have:

Paperless office (Windows boxes), using Git to back up files to the
repo on my server (Centos 5)

Back Office server application built with Rails manages customer
information/emails/standard letters/todo lists etc

Ruby 1.9.2

This is the problem I have:

The Rails app needs to pull backed-up files from the Git repo into a
private part of the server so that the Rails app can read/evaluate/
display files backed up from the office.

Therefore, I need ruby to:

git pull ...
enter password
wait for git to complete pulling files in
hand control back to the Rails app to analyse the files and perform
any back office processing as I see fit


Obviously, I could just ssh into my server and pull the files myself,
but that relies on me being around the office all the time, what I
really need to do is:

a) automate the process and,
b) provide a function in the Rails app so that non-technical staff can
press a button on a web page and begin the process (this part is
simple if I can solve a), above)

I've been through the Pickaxe book, and am going to look closer at PTY
and the 'expect' method later today and see if I can figure it out
with these, but I am self taught, not 'classically trained' , so I
would imagine this may spawn a whole new branch of learning for me in
regards to processes and subprocesses, which I need to learn anyhow,
so would appreciate any pointers any of the ruby experts out there
might be willing to provide.

Thanks

Paul