ActiveRecord Delta Updates

model = Widget.find(1)
puts model.number #=> 0
model.number += 5
model.save

# Before:
UPDATE `widgets` SET `number` = 5 WHERE `id` = 1;

# After:
UPDATE `widgets` SET `number` = `number` + 5 WHERE `id` = 1;

Install

sudo gem sources -a http://gems.github.com # unless you already have it
sudo gem install arya-ar-deltas

Use

class Widget < ActiveRecord::Base
  delta_attributes :number_one, :number_two
end

Notes

• Only works with numeric columns
• Tested in with ActiveRecord 2.3.3 and 3.0.0pre
• You don't have to use += or -=, it uses the changes hash to figure out the difference to apply
• If you're using write-through caching, be careful about running into inconsistencies