Ruby-processing is a bridge between the Processing creative-coding framework (originally Java-based) and the Ruby language, created to let developers and artists write Processing sketches using Ruby syntax. It enables the well-known graphics, animation, interaction and sketching patterns of Processing in a Ruby environment, which can be appealing to those who prefer Ruby’s syntax or already live in the Ruby ecosystem. Though the project is now deprecated and newer alternatives exist, it remains an excellent historical example of how to embed a drawing/graphics API into another language and how creative coding communities evolve. For educators or artists exploring coding visually, Ruby-Processing provided a low-barrier entry by combining a high-level language (Ruby) with an expressive graphics library. It also demonstrates how open-source communities wrap frameworks into new environments for accessibility and experimentation.
Features
- Ruby API to the Processing drawing, animation and interaction framework
- Support for visual primitives (ellipse, rect, translate, rotate, noise, etc) via Ruby methods
- Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux) when paired with Processing runtime
- Ability to write sketches in Ruby, lowering syntax barrier for artists and non-Java developers
- Integration with Ruby gems and toolchains (Rake, gemspec, etc)
- Open-source examples and sample sketches demonstrating code-as-art concept