# MagickWand for Ruby 0.2.0

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/magickwand-for-ruby-0-2-0/173982>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [August 18, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/magickwand-for-ruby-0-2-0/173982 "2009-08-18T23:29:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![timhunter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@timhunter](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/timhunter)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/magickwand-for-ruby-0-2-0/173982/1 "2009-08-18T23:29:41Z")

</div>

I’ve just uploaded the second beta release of MagickWand for Ruby, my  
new binding to ImageMagick. MagickWand for Ruby is a complete rethinking  
of RMagick. I call it “RMagick rebooted.”

MagickWand for Ruby objects are managed by Ruby just like any other  
object. There is no need for your scripts run GC or call a special  
method to destroy them.

This release adds the Drawing class for creating 2D drawings. If you’re  
familiar with RMagick then MagickWand::Drawing is similar to  
Magick::Draw, although perhaps a bit easier to use. It is not as  
complicated as RVG.

MagickWand for Ruby requires a _very_ recent release of ImageMagick,  
6.5.0 or later.

If you’re familar with RMagick probably you’ve got some questions.

1. Is it easier to install than RMagick?  
No, it’s exactly the same. You have to install ImageMagick and its  
delegate libraries just like you do for RMagick. The MagickWand for Ruby  
gem does not install any documentation, though, so it installs faster  
than RMagick.

2. Do we really need another binding to ImageMagick?  
I like to think that MagickWand is to RMagick what _District 9_ is to  
_Alien Nation_.

3. Why did you do it?  
In the 6 or so years I’ve been working on RMagick, Ruby has changed a  
lot. So has ImageMagick. So have I. I’ve learned a lot about Ruby and  
ImageMagick. MagickWand incorporates everything that I’ve learned.

4. Is this the end of RMagick?  
Absolutely not. I’ve supported RMagick for over 6 years. I don’t plan on  
stopping bug fixes or enhancements.

Everything there is to know about MagickWand for Ruby is at  
[http://magickwand.rubyforge.org](http://magickwand.rubyforge.org).

Report bugs, ask questions, whatever, at the usual locations on  
RubyForge [[http://rubyforge.org/projects/magickwand/](http://rubyforge.org/projects/magickwand/)]. If you do try it  
out, you’d be doing me a great favor by dropping me a line to say so.

Credits: Thanks to Luis L. for rake-compiler, and Thomas L. for  
webgen.

–  
MagickWand for Ruby - [http://magickwand.rubyforge.org/](http://magickwand.rubyforge.org/)