Rails 8 • Hotwire • Solid Queue • Stripe • GitHub • Kamal

Build a production-ready SaaS with Rails 8.

This book will take you from your very first Rails commands all the way to deploying a real, paying SaaS. You'll work through authentication, background jobs, email, Stripe subscriptions, webhooks, and deployment. All in one application, all with modern Rails 8 defaults.

Get the book Read sample chapters
600+ pages of practical instruction No blog tutorial fluff Built around a real SaaS app

Built with the modern Rails stack

Rails 8 Turbo 8 Stimulus Solid Queue Solid Cache Solid Cable PostgreSQL Stripe GitHub API + Webhooks Kamal 2

You'll build one app from rails new to kamal deploy. Every chapter adds to the same codebase.

You don't want to build another blog app. Most tutorials stop at CRUD. This book covers the parts that actually matter when you want to build something people will pay for. No over-engineering, no busywork.
No toy storefront No fake social clone No giant enterprise detour Just a real SaaS build

What you'll actually build

You'll build a Daily Standup Application with multi-tenant teams, paid plans, real-time updates, and third-party integrations. Every chapter adds to the same codebase. I currently run Status Cat using the same code and techniques from the book.

Core product features

  • Users, teams, and app data that fit real SaaS workflows
  • Daily tasks and blockers
  • Email reminders and recap emails
  • Real-time updates in the UI

Revenue and integrations

  • Multiple plans and paid subscriptions
  • Stripe checkout and webhook handling
  • GitHub authentication and API access
  • Webhook-driven integrations

Production-ready architecture

  • Background jobs with Active Job and Solid Queue
  • Hotwire with Turbo and Stimulus
  • Caching and performance tuning
  • Deploying with Kamal 2

Not another Rails tutorial

Most Rails content either stops at CRUD or gets way too abstract. This book stays practical. There's enough depth to build a real product but it won't try to be a reference manual.

What makes it different

  • One SaaS app from start to finish, not a bunch of disconnected examples
  • Modern Rails 8 patterns and defaults throughout
  • Covers the hard parts that trip people up
  • Shows how the pieces fit together, not just which command to run

Who this is for

  • Developers building their first real SaaS
  • Rails devs upgrading their stack to Rails 8
  • Indie hackers who want to actually ship something
  • People who learn best by building one complete app start to finish

What's inside

13 chapters from first app to production deploy. The first half lays a solid Rails foundation. The second half gets into the SaaS-specific stuff: payments, email, real-time features, integrations, and deployment.

Foundations

  1. Ruby on Rails and Your First App: create a sample app and understand the conventions behind Rails
  2. Testing and You: why testing matters, different test types, and CI
  3. Starting Your SaaS App: system requirements, Git, Importmaps, Turbo, and TailwindCSS
  4. Users Are Everything: built-in Rails authentication, friendly URLs, user invites, and account flows
  5. Business Models and Logic: create the resources users interact with and how they relate to each other
  6. Service Objects: when there's too much business logic in your controllers
  7. ActiveJob and SolidQueue: where background tasks fit in, how to create and manage them

SaaS systems

  1. Mailers and You: ActionMailer from generation to edge cases, plus parsing replies with Rails' built-in tools
  2. HotWire: StimulusJS, Turbo 8, and ActionCable/SolidCable for real-time UI
  3. Stripe Payments and Subscriptions: plans, billing flows, webhooks, and safe payment handling
  4. Third-Party Integrations: GitHub auth, API access, webhook activity, Rails events, and analytics
  5. Speeding Up Rails: common performance pitfalls and how to use SolidCache
  6. Deploying: deploy to your own server with Kamal 2 or try Heroku if you don't want to manage one

Formats

Read it however you want: PDF, ePub, and MOBI.

Source code

Access the source code for each chapter's content as well as the finished sample application.

Exercises + cheat sheets

Chapter exercises to test your knowledge and cheat sheets to keep common commands at your fingertips.

Get the book

Both options include the full book. The Complete Package also gets you source code for every chapter, cheat sheets, exercises, and community access.

Most complete

Complete Package

$149
$77
  • Rails 8 eBook in PDF, ePub, and MOBI
  • Full chapter-by-chapter source code
  • Exercises and cheat sheets
  • Private Slack community
  • Copy of Build a SaaS App in Ruby on Rails 7 included
Pre Sale | $149 $77
Just the essentials

Book Only

$79
$37
  • Rails 8 eBook in PDF, ePub, and MOBI
  • Full source code for the finished app
  • Perfect if you just want the book and code
Pre Sale | $79 $37

Read a few sample chapters first

Enter your email address and I'll send you a few chapters from the book over the course of a few days.

FAQ

Do you take PayPal?

Yes. Gumroad's payment system allows you to use PayPal right on the form. When you get to the payment widget, there is a PayPal button on the upper right corner.

Will there be extra material?

Yes. Depending on the package you choose, you'll get source code, cheat sheets, exercises, and community access.

Looking for Build A SaaS App in Rails 7?

You can access it at Build A SaaS App In Rails 7.

What format is the book in?

PDF, ePub, and MOBI.

What if I don't like it?

Email me and I'll refund you, no questions asked and no time limit.

Anything else?

Just send me an email at rob@succinctsoftwarellc.com

About the author

Rob Race

Hi, I'm Rob. I run Succinct Software and I've been building web apps professionally for over 11 years. I've shipped a few SaaS products using the same techniques in this book. You can find my writing on my blog and on Twitter/X.

Current build status: ~30% written and edited / presale