map_view — Server-side maps for Ruby on Rails

For years, maps in Rails applications have lived almost entirely on the frontend:

JavaScript libraries, external APIs, keys, variable costs, and a fair amount of friction.

map_view starts from a simple question:

What if maps in Rails were as simple as rendering a view?

<%= map_for @locations %>

That’s it.

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What is map_view?

map_view is a Ruby on Rails helper that renders maps on the server and returns an image (PNG / JPG / GIF).

No JavaScript.

No frontend dependencies.

No duplicated logic between backend and frontend.

The result is deterministic, cacheable, and easy to test.

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👉 Read the full article
https://rubystacknews.com/2026/01/19/map_view-server-side-maps-for-ruby-on-rails/