Rails upgrade: Bug fixes and security support ending soon

If your teams rely on Ruby on Rails to build and maintain mission-critical applications, it's time to take notice: Rails 7.2 was released Aug. 10, and the Rails maintenance policy calls for the impending end of support for many of your applications. 

In fact, depending on the version of Rails you're running, you could be facing potential security risks or losing bug fix support as early as Oct. 1.

If your application is running on an unsupported version of Rails, it may not meet certain compliance requirements, especially if your industry has strict regulations regarding software updates and security.

Sure, plenty of Rails shops run outdated software without a hitch — but when things go wrong, they tend to do so in unexpected ways. If that happens, you’ll be left without support, much like ignoring the dead batteries in your smoke detector until it's too late.

Rails maintenance: Dates to know

The Rails maintenance policy on minor releases calls for bug fixes for one year and security fixes for two years. Once a release series is no longer supported, you’re on your own for bugs or security fixes. 

So here's the current situation:

• Rails 6.x.x: Security support ends on Oct. 1 this year. Bug support ended last year.
• Rails 7.0.x: Security support continues until April 1, 2025, but no new bug fixes are coming.
• Rails 7.1.x: Bug fixes are only available until Oct. 1; after that, only security fixes will be provided until Oct. 1, 2025.

In other words, if your applications are still running on Rails 7.1 or earlier, you need to plan for an upgrade to Rails 7.2.

Not only will this keep your apps up-to-date with the latest bug fixes, but also it will prepare you for the next big release: Rails 8.0.

Prepare now for Rails 8.0

While there hasn't been an official announcement for the Rails 8.0 release date, we expect it to arrive in late 2024 or early 2025.

Given the typical cadence of major Rails releases, this timeline provides a window of opportunity to stay ahead of the curve.

Upgrading to Rails 7.2 now allows your team to make incremental improvements, ensuring your application runs smoothly and resolving any compatibility issues in advance.

This proactive approach will make the eventual transition to Rails 8.0 far less disruptive, enabling you to leverage new features and improvements with minimal stress.

Minimize risk through regular Rails upgrades

Staying current with the latest Rails versions gives your team access to advancements that simplify maintenance and extension of your applications while reducing long-term costs and complexity.

Upgrading to a newer Rails version also improves performance, memory usage, and unlocks newer Ruby versions with significant speed gains. With Rails 7.2, you’ll benefit from optimized database queries, better support for asynchronous operations, and enhanced security measures right out of the box.

Perhaps the biggest advantage, however, lies in proactive risk management. 

Upgrading isn’t just about staying current—it’s about minimizing the risk of security breaches and ensuring that your applications continue to run smoothly as you build new features and ship products.

With Rails 8.0 on the horizon, the stakes are only getting higher. Waiting too long to upgrade could leave your team scrambling to fix issues at the last minute, or worse, dealing with the fallout of a security incident that could have been avoided.

But let's face it—Rails upgrades can be a pain. They often take longer than anticipated, disrupt your development team's focus, and can even introduce unexpected issues that no one saw coming.

There is a better way.

A proven approach to seamless Rails upgrades

At Test Double, we've spent over a decade managing seamless Rails upgrades – including for some of the largest Rails codebases in the world, like GitHub and Gusto. 

We've seen it all— from legacy apps that haven't been touched in years to complex systems that require careful coordination across multiple teams. Through it all, we've developed an approach that ensures your team can continue to deliver critical features while we handle the heavy lifting of the upgrade process.

What sets our approach apart is our commitment to leaving your team better than we found it. We don’t just focus on the upgrade; we ensure your application is well-prepared for the future.

Our process begins with a thorough assessment of your existing test coverage. If your test suite is big, unruly, or doesn’t inspire confidence, we work with you to incrementally strengthen it, ensuring that changes can be made safely and progress won’t be lost if work is paused.

We then methodically address the upgrade itself, deploying changes intentionally to mitigate risk and teaching your team how to maintain stability through each phase. 

By the end, your team not only benefits from a successful upgrade, but also gains the knowledge to handle future updates with confidence—just like our consultant demonstrated in his 'zero downtime Rails upgrades' talk at RailsConf 2023.

Start planning your Rails upgrade today

Maintaining the health of your applications requires staying on top of Rails upgrades. Begin planning your upgrade now and avoid the rush.

If the complexities seem daunting, Test Double is here to help. Our expertise allows your team to concentrate on building great software, while we ensure your platform is stable, secure, and future-ready.

Schedule your free consultation today.

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