Ruby Programming Language and Popular API Gems

aid: ruby
name: Ruby Programming Language and Popular API Gems
description: >-
  A profile of the Ruby programming language ecosystem from an API perspective: the language and its standard library
  HTTP surface (Net::HTTP), the rubygems.org package registry and its public v1/v2 REST API, Bundler, RBS type
  signatures, popular HTTP/REST client gems (Faraday, http.rb, HTTParty, Excon, Typhoeus, REST Client, HTTPClient), and
  the major Ruby frameworks used to build APIs (Rails API mode, Sinatra, Grape).
type: Index
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
tags:
  - Programming Language
  - Ruby
  - HTTP
  - REST
  - API Clients
  - Frameworks
  - Libraries
  - Package Registry
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/ruby/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2026-05-23'
modified: '2026-05-23'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
  - aid: ruby:net-http
    name: Net::HTTP (Ruby Standard Library)
    description: >-
      The HTTP client class shipped with the Ruby standard library. Provides class and instance methods for GET, POST,
      PUT, DELETE, HEAD, PATCH, OPTIONS, TRACE plus WebDAV methods (COPY, LOCK, MKCOL, MOVE, PROPFIND, PROPPATCH,
      UNLOCK), TLS, proxy support, and configurable timeouts. Backs many higher-level gems such as Faraday's default
      adapter.
    humanURL: https://docs.ruby-lang.org/en/master/Net/HTTP.html
    tags:
      - HTTP Client
      - Standard Library
      - Built-In
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://docs.ruby-lang.org/en/master/Net/HTTP.html
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/ruby/net-http
  - aid: ruby:rubygems-registry-api
    name: RubyGems.org Registry API v1
    description: >-
      Public REST API for the rubygems.org package registry. Endpoints cover gems, versions, downloads, owners,
      profiles, web hooks, activity, API keys, and OIDC/trusted-publishing token exchange. Authentication is via an API
      key in the Authorization header with optional OTP header for MFA. Responses available as JSON or YAML.
    humanURL: https://guides.rubygems.org/rubygems-org-api/
    baseURL: https://rubygems.org/api/v1
    tags:
      - Package Registry
      - REST
      - Public API
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://guides.rubygems.org/rubygems-org-api/
      - type: APIReference
        url: https://guides.rubygems.org/rubygems-org-api/
      - type: Authentication
        url: https://guides.rubygems.org/api-key-scopes/
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems.org
      - type: SDK
        url: https://github.com/rubygems/gems
      - type: OpenAPI
        url: openapi/rubygems-registry-openapi.yml
      - type: JSONSchema
        url: json-schema/rubygems-registry-gem-schema.json
      - type: JSONSchema
        url: json-schema/rubygems-registry-version-schema.json
      - type: JSONSchema
        url: json-schema/rubygems-registry-owner-schema.json
      - type: JSONSchema
        url: json-schema/rubygems-registry-webhook-schema.json
      - type: JSONStructure
        url: json-structure/rubygems-registry-gem-structure.json
      - type: JSONStructure
        url: json-structure/rubygems-registry-version-structure.json
      - type: Example
        url: examples/rubygems-registry-get-gem-example.json
      - type: Example
        url: examples/rubygems-registry-list-versions-example.json
      - type: Example
        url: examples/rubygems-registry-list-owners-example.json
      - type: Example
        url: examples/rubygems-registry-search-example.json
      - type: Example
        url: examples/rubygems-registry-create-webhook-example.json
  - aid: ruby:rubygems-registry-api-v2
    name: RubyGems.org Registry API v2
    description: >-
      Version 2 of the rubygems.org registry API. Adds gem version detail endpoints with optional platform query
      parameter, returning richer metadata than v1.
    humanURL: https://guides.rubygems.org/rubygems-org-api-v2/
    baseURL: https://rubygems.org/api/v2
    tags:
      - Package Registry
      - REST
      - Public API
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://guides.rubygems.org/rubygems-org-api-v2/
      - type: APIReference
        url: https://guides.rubygems.org/rubygems-org-api-v2/
  - aid: ruby:bundler
    name: Bundler
    description: >-
      Dependency manager for Ruby. Reads a Gemfile, resolves and installs gems from rubygems.org or alternate sources,
      and writes Gemfile.lock for reproducible installs across environments. Ships as part of modern Ruby distributions.
    humanURL: https://bundler.io/
    tags:
      - Dependency Management
      - CLI
      - Package Manager
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://bundler.io/docs.html
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems
  - aid: ruby:rbs
    name: RBS (Ruby Type Signatures)
    description: >-
      A language for describing the structure of Ruby programs. Lets developers declare classes, modules, method
      signatures, instance variables and inheritance in separate .rbs files so type checkers and IDE tooling can verify
      code against an explicit contract.
    humanURL: https://github.com/ruby/rbs
    tags:
      - Type System
      - Schema
      - Contracts
    properties:
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/ruby/rbs
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://github.com/ruby/rbs#readme
  - aid: ruby:faraday
    name: Faraday
    description: >-
      Simple but flexible HTTP client library with a common interface over many adapters (Net::HTTP, Typhoeus, Patron,
      Excon, HTTPClient, and others) and Rack-style middleware for request/response processing.
    humanURL: https://lostisland.github.io/faraday/
    tags:
      - HTTP Client
      - Middleware
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://lostisland.github.io/faraday/
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/lostisland/faraday
  - aid: ruby:httparty
    name: HTTParty
    description: >-
      HTTP client gem that "makes consuming RESTful web services dead easy" via a class-level DSL. Wraps Net::HTTP with
      parsing, query handling, and authentication helpers.
    humanURL: https://github.com/jnunemaker/httparty
    tags:
      - HTTP Client
      - REST
    properties:
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/jnunemaker/httparty
  - aid: ruby:http-rb
    name: http.rb
    description: >-
      Fast Ruby HTTP client built on the llhttp parser with a chainable request-building API, streaming bodies,
      persistent connections, and fine-grained timeout control.
    humanURL: https://github.com/httprb/http
    tags:
      - HTTP Client
      - Streaming
    properties:
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/httprb/http
  - aid: ruby:excon
    name: Excon
    description: >-
      EXtended HTTP(S) CONnections library focused on performance, persistent connections, and predictable behavior.
      Used as an adapter under Faraday and inside Fog/cloud SDKs.
    humanURL: https://github.com/excon/excon
    tags:
      - HTTP Client
    properties:
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/excon/excon
  - aid: ruby:typhoeus
    name: Typhoeus
    description: >-
      Libcurl-based HTTP client built for running HTTP requests in parallel. Pairs well with Hydra for fan-out
      integrations against many APIs at once.
    humanURL: https://github.com/typhoeus/typhoeus
    tags:
      - HTTP Client
      - Parallel
    properties:
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/typhoeus/typhoeus
  - aid: ruby:rest-client
    name: REST Client
    description: >-
      Simple HTTP and REST client for Ruby inspired by Sinatra's microframework style. Provides class-level
      GET/POST/PUT/DELETE helpers.
    humanURL: https://github.com/rest-client/rest-client
    tags:
      - HTTP Client
      - REST
    properties:
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/rest-client/rest-client
  - aid: ruby:httpclient
    name: HTTPClient
    description: >-
      Long-standing Ruby HTTP client providing "the functionality of libwww-perl (LWP) in Ruby". Supports keep-alive,
      cookies, proxies, and SSL.
    humanURL: https://github.com/nahi/httpclient
    tags:
      - HTTP Client
    properties:
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/nahi/httpclient
  - aid: ruby:rails-api
    name: Ruby on Rails (API Mode)
    description: >-
      Rails generated with the --api flag boots a slimmer middleware stack and an ApplicationController inheriting from
      ActionController::API (rather than ActionController::Base), making Rails a first-class JSON API framework while
      keeping Active Record, routing, and generators.
    humanURL: https://guides.rubyonrails.org/api_app.html
    tags:
      - Web Framework
      - REST
      - JSON API
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://guides.rubyonrails.org/api_app.html
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/rails/rails
      - type: Website
        url: https://rubyonrails.org/
  - aid: ruby:sinatra
    name: Sinatra
    description: >-
      "DSL for quickly creating web applications in Ruby with minimal effort." Widely used to stand up small HTTP APIs
      and microservices without the ceremony of a full-stack framework.
    humanURL: https://sinatrarb.com/
    tags:
      - Web Framework
      - Microframework
      - DSL
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://sinatrarb.com/documentation.html
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/sinatra/sinatra
  - aid: ruby:grape
    name: Grape
    description: >-
      "Opinionated framework for creating REST-like APIs in Ruby." Provides a routing DSL with parameter validation,
      versioning, and content-negotiation helpers; runs standalone or mounted in Rails.
    humanURL: https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape
    tags:
      - Web Framework
      - REST
      - DSL
    properties:
      - type: GitHub
        url: https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape#readme
common:
  - type: SpectralRules
    url: rules/rubygems-registry-rules.yml
  - type: Vocabulary
    url: vocabulary/ruby-vocabulary.yml
  - type: JSON-LD
    url: json-ld/ruby-context.jsonld
  - type: Website
    url: https://www.ruby-lang.org/
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.ruby-lang.org/en/
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/documentation/quickstart/
  - type: Downloads
    url: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/downloads/
  - type: ReleaseNotes
    url: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/
  - type: Security
    url: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/security/
  - type: Community
    url: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/community/
  - type: Blog
    url: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/
  - type: GitHubOrganization
    url: https://github.com/ruby
  - type: GitHubOrganization
    url: https://github.com/rubygems
  - type: GitHubOrganization
    url: https://github.com/rails
  - type: SourceCode
    url: https://github.com/ruby/ruby
  - type: Registry
    url: https://rubygems.org/
  - type: StatusPage
    url: https://status.rubygems.org/
  - type: Blog
    url: https://blog.rubygems.org/
  - type: License
    url: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/about/license.txt
  - type: Features
    data:
      - name: Dynamic, Object-Oriented Language
        description: >-
          Ruby is a dynamic, open-source programming language with a focus on simplicity and productivity, with
          everything-is-an-object semantics.
      - name: Standard Library HTTP Client
        description: >-
          Net::HTTP ships in the standard library and covers GET/POST/PUT/ DELETE/HEAD/PATCH/OPTIONS/TRACE plus WebDAV
          verbs and TLS.
      - name: Public Package Registry API
        description: >-
          rubygems.org exposes versioned v1 and v2 REST APIs over HTTPS for discovering, publishing, and managing gems
          with JSON or YAML responses.
      - name: Trusted Publishing via OIDC
        description: >-
          /api/v1/oidc/ endpoints let CI providers exchange OIDC tokens for short-lived RubyGems API keys instead of
          long-lived secrets.
      - name: Type Signatures with RBS
        description: >-
          RBS provides a separate-file type signature language so Ruby code can carry an explicit, machine-checkable
          contract for IDEs and type checkers.
      - name: API-First Rails
        description: >-
          rails new --api generates a Rails app with a JSON-oriented middleware stack and ActionController::API as the
          base class.
  - type: UseCases
    data:
      - name: Consuming Third-Party HTTP APIs
        description: >-
          Calling external REST APIs from Ruby scripts, jobs, and services using Net::HTTP, Faraday, http.rb, HTTParty,
          or Excon.
      - name: Building JSON APIs
        description: >-
          Standing up REST/JSON APIs with Rails in --api mode, Sinatra, or Grape, optionally documented with OpenAPI
          tooling.
      - name: Publishing and Managing Gems
        description: >-
          Releasing libraries to rubygems.org via the v1 publish endpoints and the gem and bundler CLIs, including
          trusted-publishing flows.
      - name: Mirroring or Caching a Private Gem Server
        description: Running gemstash as a rubygems.org cache and private gem server inside an enterprise.
      - name: Static Analysis and IDE Support
        description: Writing .rbs signatures so type checkers and IDEs can validate method shapes against the implementation.
  - type: Integrations
    data:
      - name: rubygems.org Registry
        description: >-
          The default gem source for bundler and the gem CLI, accessible over HTTPS at https://rubygems.org and
          https://rubygems.org/api/v1.
      - name: GitHub Actions (setup-ruby)
        description: ruby/setup-ruby installs prebuilt Ruby versions in CI for building, testing, and publishing gems.
      - name: OIDC Trusted Publishing
        description: >-
          /api/v1/oidc/ exchanges short-lived CI OIDC tokens for scoped rubygems.org API keys, eliminating long-lived
          secrets.
      - name: Fastly CDN
        description: >-
          rubygems.org serves gem downloads and the API surface through Fastly edge caching, tracked on
          status.rubygems.org.
      - name: HackerOne Vulnerability Disclosure
        description: >-
          Ruby core security issues are reported through the official HackerOne program and the security@ruby-lang.org
          mailing list.
  - type: Solutions
    data:
      - name: Self-Hosted RubyGems with Gemstash
        description: A caching proxy and private gem server for organizations that need air-gapped or controlled gem distribution.
      - name: Rails-Powered API Backends
        description: >-
          Production JSON API backends built on Rails --api mode with Active Record, Active Job, and Action Cable as
          needed.
      - name: Sinatra Microservices
        description: Lightweight HTTP services and API gateways built on Sinatra's minimal DSL.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com