Using Zbar barcode reader command line with Ruby

zbarrubyexample.rb

def self.read_barcode_from_image path

    # Call the barcode reader - and get a response of multiple lines    
    ls = `/usr/bin/zbarimg '#{path}'`.lines

    # Handle a variety of unexpected responses that we have seen and debugged quickly over time
    ls = [ls] if ls.is_a?(String)
    barcodes = []
    return barcodes if ls.nil? || ls == 0 
    
    # Read the responses and create an array of barcode types, values and potential URLs
    for l in ls
      pos = l.index(':')
      s = [l[0..pos-1], l[pos+1..-1].chomp]
      url_string = s[1].dup
      url_string.gsub!(/((https?:\/\/)([-\w]+\.[-\w\.]+)+\w(:\d+)?(\/([-\w\/_\.]*(\?\S+)?)?)*)/, '<a href="\1">\1</a>')
      includes_url = !s[1].index(/((https?:\/\/)([-\w]+\.[-\w\.]+)+\w(:\d+)?(\/([-\w\/_\.]*(\?\S+)?)?)*)/).nil?

      barcodes << (s << includes_url << url_string )
    end

    return barcodes

  end