Making Maps with Ruby January 29, 2026 Static and animated cartography built directly from GeoJSON For a long time, generating maps from code meant working inside heavy ecosystems designed primarily for analysis. Those tools are powerful, but they are not always the right fit. In many practical scenarios, the problem is simpler and more concrete:…

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The libgd-gis library enables Ruby developers to generate static and animated maps directly from GeoJSON data, outputting PNG, JPG, WebP, and GIF formats including animated GIFs. The workflow separates data, visual styles (defined in YAML), and rendering logic, allowing developers to create reproducible cartographic visualizations with precise control over markers, labels, routes, and paths. This approach provides a lightweight alternative to heavy GIS ecosystems for straightforward mapping tasks like documentation, reporting, and automated exports.

Making Maps with Ruby

Static and animated cartography built directly from GeoJSON

Points: precise control over markers and labels

MultiLineString: routes and paths rendered with intent