Efficient File Uploads in Ruby: Leveraging the 'seek' Method for Resumable Uploads

When working with file uploads in Ruby, especially when dealing with large files or resuming interrupted uploads, the seek method becomes an essential tool. This is especially useful if you track how much data has already been uploaded.

How seek Helps in Resumable Uploads

If an upload is interrupted, you can track the uploaded bytes and use seek to resume from that point, avoiding duplicate uploads.

Steps to Use seek in File Uploads

1. Track how much data is uploaded (uploaded_bytes)

2. Open the File in binary read mode ("rb") to handle all file types.

3. Move to the Last Uploaded Byte using seek(uploaded_bytes).

4. Continue uploading from where it left off

Example Code

uploaded_bytes ||= 0 # Keep track of uploaded bytes

File.open("path/to/file", "rb") do |f|
  f.seek(uploaded_bytes) # Move pointer to last uploaded position

  until f.eof?
    chunk = f.read(256 * 1024) # Read 256 KB
    range_start = uploaded_bytes
    range_end = uploaded_bytes + chunk.size - 1

    request = Net::HTTP::Put.new(uri)
    request["Content-Range"] = "bytes #{range_start}-#{range_end}/*"
    request.body = chunk

    response = Net::HTTP.start(uri.hostname, uri.port, use_ssl: uri.scheme == "https") do |http|
      http.request(request)
    end

    uploaded_bytes += chunk.size # Update progress
  end
end

Conclusion

The seek method is a powerful tool for managing file uploads in Ruby. By allowing you to move the file pointer to a specific position, it enables efficient handling of large files and resumption of interrupted uploads. Understanding and utilizing seek can significantly enhance the robustness and efficiency of your file upload processes.