Hamburger Menu Working Locally but Not When Deployed on Heroku: A Troubleshooting Guide

Step 1: Verify Configuration

Double-check your configurations to ensure consistency between local and production environments. Review your:

• config/environments/production.rb file for any differences from your local environment
• config/application.rb file for any configuration discrepancies
• routes.rb file to ensure correct routing

# Example: config/environments/production.rb
Rails.application.configure do
  # ...
  config.assets.compile = true
  config.assets.version = '1.0'
end

Step 2: Inspect Static Assets

Verify that your static assets are being served correctly by checking:

• The contents of your public folder to ensure all necessary files are present
• The config/environments/production.rb file for correct asset compilation and serving
• The browser’s Network tab in the DevTools to inspect HTTP requests and responses for asset files

# Example: config/environments/production.rb
Rails.application.configure do
  # ...
  config.serve_static_assets = true
  config.static_cache_control = 'public, max-age=31536000'
end

Step 3: Investigate Dependency Issues

Check for any dependency version conflicts or issues by:

• Running bundle update to ensure all dependencies are up-to-date
• Reviewing your Gemfile and Gemfile.lock files for any discrepancies
• Verifying the compatibility of your dependencies with Heroku’s Ruby version

# Example: Gemfile
gem 'rails', '6.0.3.2'
gem 'jquery-rails', '4.4.0'
gem 'bootstrap-sass', '3.4.1'

Step 4: Adapt to Heroku’s URL Scheme

Heroku uses a unique URL scheme, which might affect your hamburger menu’s functionality. To accommodate this:

• Use relative URLs for your assets and menu items
• Configure your menu to use the request.host_with_port method to construct URLs

# Example: menu partial
<ul>
  <% @menu_items.each do |item| %>
    <li><%= link_to item.name, "#{request.host_with_port}/#{item.path}" %></li>
  <% end %>
</ul>

Step 5: Debug and Test

Use Heroku’s built-in debugging tools and testing frameworks to identify and fix the issue:

• Enable Heroku’s logging and debugging features to inspect errors and requests
• Write and run automated tests using RSpec or other testing frameworks
• Use the Heroku CLI to diagnose and debug your app

# Example: Heroku CLI command
heroku logs -t -p rails

Conclusion

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue with your hamburger menu not working when deployed on Heroku. Remember to:

• Maintain consistency between local and production environments
• Verify correct serving and caching of static assets
• Investigate and resolve dependency issues
• Adapt to Heroku’s unique URL scheme
• Use debugging tools and testing frameworks to identify and fix the issue

With patience and persistence, you’ll be able to get your hamburger menu working seamlessly on Heroku, providing a smooth user experience for your visitors.

Remember, troubleshooting is an iterative process. Be prepared to revisit previous steps and adjust your approach as needed. Good luck, and happy coding!

Frequently Asked Question

Stuck with a hamburger menu that’s working locally but not when deployed on Heroku? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are some frequently asked questions to help you troubleshoot the issue.