Capistrano is a Ruby-based tool that automates and simplifies deployment of applications to remote servers. It connects to servers via SSH and runs commands to deploy code between servers quickly. It allows for custom tasks, deployment hooks, automated processes like cache cleaning, and provides deployment logs. Capistrano requires Ruby 1.9 or later and installation is done by running `gem install capistrano`. Config files define project-level and environment-level settings.

1. Refresh-Hilo
http://capistranorb.com

2. What is Capistrano?
A remote server automation and
deployment tool written in Ruby.
...
A kick ass way to save you time!

3. Workflow Requirements
● Code Repository (Git, SVN, HG)
o Preferably hosted - GitHub, BitBucket, etc
● Terminal access to servers via SSH
o Root privileges not required
● Basic terminal bash commands

4. How does it work?
● Gem is installed on workstation ONLY
● Connects to server via SSH and runs
commands
● Code deployment between servers = fast!
● Create custom tasks and bind thru hooks
● Manually trigger custom tasks too

6. Cool features!
● Task Hooks
● Quick Deployment & Rollback
● Automation - clean cache, run builds
● Deployment log - who did what when
● Time saver

7. Installation
● Requires Ruby >= 1.9
● Latest release v3
$ gem install capistrano

8. Capify
● Goto a project folder
$ cap install
● Should create a few files:
o Capfile, config/deploy.rb,
config/deploy/*.rb, lib/capistrano/tasks

9. Config
● Your deploy.rb file contains project level
configs, or any config that applies to all
environments (production, staging, etc)
● deploy/{env}.rb file contains environment
level configs - this can be complex - multiple
servers, etc.

10. Config
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Refresh-
Hilo/Capistrano-Demo/master/config/deploy.rb
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Refresh-
Hilo/Capistrano-
Demo/master/config/deploy/production.rb

11. Good to know
● Must use : linked_dirs and/or linked_files
for shared assets
● Shared folder good for database config files,
etc