Summary

https://github.com/agency-of-learning/PairApp/issues/30

“We want to be able to store the timezone on a User.”

Proposals

Proposal 1 : Store time_zone as user preference in user table. Use ActiveSupport::TimeZone

Store timezone:

1. create a migration to add a user column timezone
2. edit the users controller by adding the new time_zone attribute to the permitted params
3. edit user signup form to include users’ preferred time_zone field
   1. Initially the app will only take new users via invitations(devise_invitable) therefore we won’t need to modify the user registrations forms.
   2. Instead we’ll modify the invitation form to include the new timezone field

Pros:

1. Storing the timezone will ensure that the correct time will always be used
2. Will allow users to edit their timezone at will

Cons:

1. Adds complexity to the table by adding the timezone field
2. Adds steps to the user sign up process

Proposal 2: Set timezone using ActiveSupport::TimeZone and ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone

1. Add :time_zone to the User model

   create_table :users do |t|
     t.string :time_zone, default: "UTC"
     ...
   end
   

2. Add helper to profile form to allow user to set own desired time zone

   <%= f.input :time_zone %>
   

3. In the ApplicationController set an around_action

   around_action :set_time_zone, if: :current_user
   
   private
   
   def set_time_zone(&block)
     Time.use_zone(current_user.time_zone, &block)
   end