Question 1

How to install RGeo with GEOS on Ubuntu?

Accepted Answer

Install GEOS via apt with 'sudo apt install libgeos-dev', then add the rgeo gem to your Gemfile. For detailed steps, refer to the Installing GEOS documentation in the README. On other systems, you may need to build from source or use package managers.

Question 2

RGeo vs PostGIS for Ruby projects?

Accepted Answer

RGeo is a client-side Ruby library for in-app geospatial processing, while PostGIS is a server-side database extension. They are often used together via adapters; RGeo handles geometric objects in Ruby code, and PostGIS manages spatial queries in PostgreSQL. For pure database needs, PostGIS alone might suffice.

Question 3

How to handle coordinate projections in RGeo?

Accepted Answer

Use the rgeo-proj4 extension by installing the gem and configuring factories for coordinate transformations. This allows you to work with different geographic projections, as described in the extensions section of the README.

Question 4

Is RGeo suitable for real-time geospatial applications?

Accepted Answer

RGeo is efficient for many operations via GEOS integration, but performance can vary with complex geometries. For high-volume real-time processing, benchmark with your specific data and consider caching or optimizing spatial indexes, as it relies on C library calls.

Question 5

Can I use RGeo with Rails and ActiveRecord?

Accepted Answer

Yes, via database adapters like activerecord-postgis-adapter for PostGIS. Include the adapter gem in your Rails project and set up spatial columns in migrations, enabling seamless integration for location-aware models, as outlined in the extensions.

Question 6

What are good alternatives to RGeo for Ruby?

Accepted Answer

Few comprehensive alternatives exist; RGeo is the primary geospatial library for Ruby. For simpler tasks, consider gems like geokit for basic distance calculations, or use external APIs. For non-Ruby projects, libraries like GeoDjango or Turf.js might be better fits.

Question 7

How to upgrade RGeo from version 2 to 3?

Accepted Answer

Follow the upgrade guide in doc/Upgrading-to-v3.md, which includes checking for breaking changes in factories and operations. Review NEWS.md for an overview and test thoroughly in development, as version 3 introduces significant updates that may affect existing code.

rgeo

What is rgeo?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions