January 22, 2026
libgd-gis, satellite imagery, and a new way to think about maps
Most mapping libraries start from the same place: roads, labels, vectors, tiles.
But what happens if the map itself is not the goal?
What if the map is just a lens to observe the planet?
This article is about how libgd-gis , a Ruby gem originally designed for cartographic rendering, became a tool to analyze satellite imagery at multiple scales , from the entire hemisphere down to a single river near Paraná, Argentina.
1. The usual mental model: “maps”
Traditionally, maps are:
👉 Read the full article.
https://rubystacknews.com/2026/01/22/a-new-view-of-earth-powered-by-ruby/
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