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Just after RailsConf last summer, Luke Redpath introduced plugin packs to the world. Not long after he implemented the idea, he rolled it into the Rails Plugin Tool. It’s a fantastic idea, allowing you to install an entire list of plugins in one shot. Now the idea has been kicked up a notch.

I mentioned previously that I would be making the favorites feature at the Rails plugin directory a little more handy, and now I have. When you log in to your account at the directory and view your favorite plugins, you’ll now see instructions on how to use the plugin pack installation feature of RaPT with your favorites. In short, once you create your list of favorite plugins at the site, you can then install all of those plugins with one RaPT command.

Try it out. It’s fun. :)

Earlier this morning I wrote about using OpenID with the Acts as Authenticated plugin for the Rails plugin directory. Were you wondering why you’d want to have a login at the plugin directory? :)

Over the weekend I added the ability to add plugins to your own list of favorite plugins. While viewing any plugin at the site, you can click the “Add to favorites” link to add it to your list. Now it’s easy to keep track of the plugins you use on a regular basis — which is especially handy when starting new projects.

Thanks to Michael Trier and Mike Schwab for the suggestion. Stay tuned… I’ll be adding another feature soon that will make your list of favorite plugins extra handy.

Thanks to Eric Anderson, those of you who don’t use TextMate but do use Firefox can also get a little bit of love from the plugin directory. He has released a search box enhancement that makes it easy to search the directory from the Firefox search box. Thanks Eric!

Would you like to install plugins to your Rails app without ever leaving your favorite text editor? Well, if your favorite text editor is TextMate, you now can, thanks to Duane Johnson. In r1324 of TextMate, which just got auto-updated on my laptop a few minutes ago, there’s now a quick and easy way to search for and install plugins listed in the Rails plugin directory.

When in Ruby on Rails mode in TextMate and editing a file that’s part of a Rails application, use ^| to pull up a list of Rails actions and choose 2 to install a plugin. You’ll get a text box and a “Go” button. Enter your search text in the box, click the button, and you’ll run a search against the plugin directory at AgileWebDevelopment.com. For each search result you get back, you’ll get links to the plugin’s home page, to the plugin’s SVN repository, and for installing the plugin. Click that last link and the plugin will be installed. Now you don’t even have to use RaPT. :)

Thanks Duane!

Tom Fakes has been keeping me updated on the countdown to the 400th plugin in the Rails plugin directory, and now it has happened. The Custom Benchmarks plugin is number 400! (Cue confetti, noisemakers, etc.) Perhaps I should have some sort of giveaway for the person who submits the 500th plugin. :)