Archive for November, 2008

Introducing a New Open Source Apache Module: mod_graphics Comments Off

Posted November 6, 2008

mod_graphics is a new Apache module built using ImageMagick that allows you to generate simple graphics from a web site using a REST-only syntax.  Currently, the module has 2 primary features:

  • Circles – generate circles of any size with a specified foreground and background color
  • Gradient – generate a 1 pixel x any length rectangle that has a 2 color, linear-gradient fill in horizontal or vertical orientation
The module is designed to allow web page theme designers and developers to create rounded corners and resizeable dynamic modules without having to generate custom graphic files in photoshop for every adjustment.
There is an amazing variety of ways to create Web 2.0 style ’rounded corners’ including:
I am hoping that some of the developers who have created these approaches might integrate mod_graphics into their techniques to make their solutions fully automated.
Some key features:
  • Apache 2 Licensed Open Source
  • Entirely C/C++
There are probably a handful of bugs for getting it to work on every flavor of linux, but we’ll get those hashed out as we hear about them.  Instructions to compile and install are in the readme.
View the project, or download the code (Subversion) and let me know what you think.  Feature ideas and patches are welcome.