Disallow self- and descendant-reference for base/parent

app/models/quantity.rb

@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ class Quantity < ApplicationRecord
 
   validate if: ->{ parent.present? } do
     errors.add(:parent, :user_mismatch) unless user == parent.user
+    errors.add(:parent, :self_reference) if self == parent
+  end
+  validate if: ->{ parent.present? }, on: :update do
+    errors.add(:parent, :descendant_reference) if ancestor_of?(parent)
   end
   validates :name, presence: true, uniqueness: {scope: [:user_id, :parent_id]},
     length: {maximum: type_for_attribute(:name).limit}
@@ -99,4 +103,15 @@ class Quantity < ApplicationRecord
       end
     end
   end
+
+  def ancestor_of?(descendant)
+    quantities = Quantity.arel_table
+    ancestors = Arel::Table.new('ancestors')
+    Quantity.with_recursive(ancestors: [
+      user.quantities.where(id: descendant.id),
+      user.quantities.joins(quantities.create_join(
+          ancestors, quantities.create_on(quantities[:id].eq(ancestors[:parent_id]))
+      ))
+    ]).from(ancestors).exists?(ancestors: {id: id})
+  end
 end

app/models/unit.rb

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ class Unit < ApplicationRecord
 
   validate if: ->{ base.present? } do
     errors.add(:base, :user_mismatch) unless user == base.user
+    errors.add(:base, :self_reference) if self == base
     errors.add(:base, :multilevel_nesting) if base.base.present?
   end
   validates :symbol, presence: true, uniqueness: {scope: :user_id},

config/locales/en.yml

@@ -23,11 +23,18 @@ en:
           attributes:
             base:
               multilevel_nesting: has to be a top-level unit
+              self_reference: of an unit cannot be the unit itself
               user_mismatch: has to belong to the same user as unit
             multiplier:
               equal_to: for a top-level unit has to be 1
             symbol:
               taken: has to be unique
+        quantity:
+          attributes:
+            parent:
+              descendant_reference: of the quantity cannot be its descendant
+              self_reference: of the quantitiy cannot be the quantity itself
+              user_mismatch: has to belong to the same user as quantity
   actioncontroller:
     exceptions:
       status: