Ploticus is a command line tool to generate a wide variety of 2d plots, that does output in a wide variety of open formats (including png, svg, etc.). Somehow this is the first time I’ve heard of it.

A good example of what’s possible with HTML, JavaScript and SVG. So many possibilities!

The Prototype Javascript graphic library does basic SVG, Canvas, and VML rendering for web pages. Not to be confused with the other Javascript Prototype library.

A Ruby on Rails diagram generator. Now you can see your ROR projects in full unidirected beauty. Graphs are produced in SVG and PNG using Graphviz.

Ajaxio, a prototype ‘visio’ web application using Ajax and SVG. I was wondering a while back if this approach could work (I guess so).

An Interactive SVG tutorial.

Today I was thinking about how to write a web app that draws comic bubbles. There are many parts and solutions to the problem. It’s one of those things that gets complex quickly, unless you’re willing to remove some of the harder features.

I need to spend some time thinking about compromise, as a perfect solution is unlikely given the tools available for web applications.

Some of the problems:

• Embedding special fonts
• Resizing irregular bubbles
• Adding/positioning bubble parts
• Positioning fonts based on irregular edges
• Clipping bubbles to strip edges
• How/where to render (client or server, svg, js, raster, etc.)

I can see a few different approaches. Each solves a few of the hard problems, and each has its own rough spots.

One approach would be to perform the rendering on the server side. Something like Inkscape could be pared down to run as a web service. Comics would be stored in SVG, but rendered to GIF/PNG to embed in the web pages. Comic authors would edit their strips using rich Javascript approximations (edit boxes over the rendered form), and readers would see the already-rendered strips. This allows for high quality rendering, for authors who wanted to go to press with their strips.

Another approach would live within the limitations of xhtml/css/javascript. Fonts would be limited, and all rendering would be done client-side. Features could be added to this as browsers matured, but would depend heavily on browser vendors and compatibility. This approach would initially limit things like clipping, available fonts, etc., but would likely be easier to build.

There are dozens of other approaches too. Flash or the canvas widget could be used, or something written in Java. Luckily I don’t have time to start today, so I’ll have to let my subconscious gnaw on it for a while.

Here’s a quick graph of things that are starting to suck, versus things that are starting to rock. I generate the list from my link log, with some fiddling to make it pretty.

LISP versus Ruby

Ruby is a reasonable language, but it seems that Lisp is getting more airtime this month. It’s good to see Lisp come back, as it is is so much cooler than Ruby.

Making is better than Hacking

Hacking is cool, no doubt about it. But, making things is even better. Making implies crafstmanship and permanence, where hacking implies clever (but potentially crappy) underpinnings. Making is like hacking done right. For some inspiration, try Make magazine.

Blogging is so Web .01

Blogging is a stupid mashup that really boils down to several simple variants of writing. If bloggers considered their craft more carefully, then maybe it would more often resemble writing.

AJAX is too Web 2.0

Ajax gives us a way to talk about sweet web apps, a place to hang our coat. Too bad it’s a lame acronym (a.c.r.o.n.y.m itself is an acryonym for ass-crunching-rank-ogre-nards-yuppy-muncher). I vote that web apps focus on utility instead of PHB-like terms.

SVG is just cool

Ok, PNG is cool too, but nowhere near as cool as SVG. After seeing my shiny graph, I’ll bet you’re saying, “I’ve gotta get me some of that SVG.”

Here’s a few SDL libraries that look reasonable and useful:

• An attractive terminal library
• SDL + SVG, appears to be Linux only
• SDL_ttf, handy font-support
• The Kyra sprite engine
• A GUI kit for SDL from Paragui
• A graphic primitive library for the SDL

Other random SDL links:

• An Ask Slashdot about SDL
• SDL: Making Linux fun at IBM Developer works
• Is SDL The Answer? at FiringSquad
• Why use the SDL? at gameprogrammer.com

A brief article on How to Include Scalable Vector Graphics Inline in an html page, and how to automatically fail-over to a PNG image. Not rocket science, but something you may find useful.