Redirect user after log in only if it's on root_path

Question

I have a root_path on my Rails application that is not user-protected i.e. it's a simple portal homepage, with a login form.

After the users log in, I'd like it to go to dashboard_path.

I've done this:

def signed_in_root_path(scope_or_resource)
  dashboard_path
end

This apparently should be used when an user signs in, and I don't want it to go to the root_path, while still keeping the user going back to a previous page if it tries to hit a restricted area and it's either timed out or not logged in.

i.e.:

restricted_page -> login -> restricted_page_but_logged_in

I don't want to change this behavior, and that's why I haven't used after_sign_in_path, but want to redirect it if it's on root_path, or any route that doesn't require user authentication.

My problem is that this is not working. After signing in, I'm getting redirected back to root_path, which I believe is because of after_sign_in_path getting triggered before.

Is there any way to do this? Thanks!

Edit: This works the second time I log in, i.e. I go to root_path, log in, gets the flash message stating me that I'm logged in, and enter username and password again on the form on root_path. I successfully get redirected to dashboard_path. Still, not quite the behavior I want.

Answer 1

Just a thought

You can define two root url one for signed in url which will point to dashboard and second for non signed in users which will point to login page

define different root url based on some constraints in routes.rb

root url for signed in users

constraints(AuthenticatedUser) do 
  root :to => "dashboard"
end

root url for non signed in users

root :to=>"users/signin"

then create class AuthenticatedUser in lib/authenticated_user.rb

class AuthenticatedUser
  def self.matches?(request)
    user_signed_in?
  end
end

now if user is signed in root_url will point to dashboard else it will point to signin page

Your can also create two roots using(did not tested it yet)

root :to => "dashboard", :constraints => {user_signed_in?}
root :to => "users/signin"

more on constrains http://edgeguides.rubyonrails.org/routing.html#request-based-constraints

Note

The priority of url is based upon order of creation, first created -> highest priority resources

Answer 2

It sounds like you're over complicating the issue. If you get into overriding routing variables it just leads to headaches down the line. I would recommend using a before filter to require a login and use the except param or skip that before filter for your landing page if you're using a separate controller. As an example:

class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base

  before_filter :require_login, :except => :root

  def root
    # Homepage
  end

  protected

  def require_login
    redirect_to login_path and return unless logged_in?
  end

end

(Make sure you have logged_in? defined)

If you are using a separate controller it will look something like this:

class HomepageController < ApplicationController

  skip_before_filter :require_login
  before_filter :route

  protected

  def route
    redirect_to dashboard_path and return if logged_in?
  end

end

Regarding proper routing after a login, that would come down to what you're doing when you're creating your session. Regardless, this setup should catch anyone that's logged in trying to hit the homepage, and route them to your dashboard and anyone trying to hit restricted content (Anything besides root) and route them to the login_path