Install vim

You will probably need to install vim

sudo apt-get install vim

Is an excellent choice for linux and mac users, it is lighweight (runs from the console) commands available from vim:-

:!jruby %   # will run the sketch

Live coding with Pry

jgem install pry
# or jruby -S gem install pry
# or if you must use rvm or rbenv not recommended

Do echo "Pry.config.editor = 'vim'" > ~/.pryrc to set vim as the pry editor.

Fire up pry using

jruby -e "require 'pry'; binding.pry"

Or more conveniently create a shortcut by using jpry alias in your .bashrc or equivalent eg .profile debian linux:-

alias jpry="jruby -e \"require 'pry'; binding.pry\""

At the pry prompt:-

load 'my_sketch'

Creating my_sketch is a easy as picrate -c my_sketch 300 300

To get full listing of sketch in pry enter $ at the prompt, to edit the draw method at the prompt do:-

edit -p MySketch#draw

On finished save and quit :wq (or :wqa to save all changed buffers) sketch will redraw reflecting changes, but you can repeat:-

edit -p MySketch#draw

this allows you to edit your changes which are saved in a .tmp file. Read more about vim / emacs integration here

Other advantages of vim

Also because vim is run from the console it is so easy to run old friends like rubocop or reek on your sketch code.

If you are millenial and allergic to the command line install use an editor that supports ruby syntax, emacs is only for hardcore geeks. As yet I don’t think the raspberrypi supports atom as an editor.