From: Martin Boese <boesemar@...>
Date: 2009-09-15T20:17:31+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby GUI GIS Application

On Tue, 2009-09-15 at 13:49 +0900, adam@spatialsystems.org wrote:
> I'm looking to move from Perl to either Ruby, Java, or Python. Looking
> at my three choices I like Ruby the best.
> 
> However, I need to make a GUI where I can make a map window and import
> layers like roads and political boundaries. The window also needs to
> pan and zoom in/out and maybe interface with PostGIS. Some of my files
> will be ShapeFiles and I need to place markers on the map and color them
> by value.
> 
> Can Ruby do this and is there a recommended tool-kit?


In my case I am using OpenLayers, an open source javascript library
similar to google maps as the user interface within my web application.
You can write a small viewer as you describe just with some few lines. 

The data is provided by a local Mapserver (mapserver.org) using WMS -
Openlayers can interface with it. Mapserver can be scripted in ruby.
Mapserver can also read and publish shapefiles.

The great advantage is that you can connect any other GIS application to
your datasets... 


If you use ActiveRecord and PostGIS - there is ruby support for it:
 http://rubyforge.org/projects/georuby/


Martin



> Thanks,
> Adam 
> 
>