andrew-kane-gem-writer

Structure a Ruby gem with minimal dependencies by favoring stdlib, keeping gemspecs lean, and managing configuration through class-level accessors without introducing complex objects. This enforces a minimal runtime footprint and explicit class-level configuration.

ActiveSupport.on_load hooks guard Rails integrations by prepending behavior via Railtie or Engine patterns during the required load order. This ensures your Ruby gem integrates cleanly without blocking framework initialization.

The best way to test Ruby gems using Minitest is implementing Minitest-only suites with multi-version gemfiles. This validates class macro DSLs and simple error hierarchies across multiple dependency versions for production readiness.

Yes, you can use class macro DSLs for API design in a zero-runtime dependency Ruby gem. This approach satisfies explicit class macros and simple error hierarchies while maintaining a minimal stdlib footprint.

You should not use complex configuration objects when developing Ruby gems if you want a minimal runtime footprint. Favor stdlib dependencies and manage settings through class-level accessors to keep the library explicit and lean.