balance_text.rb

# A rought attempt at balancing text. Injects normal spaces (thus allowing a newline) after too many characters; otherwise
# adds a non-breaking space.
# 
# It works in reverse because we'd rather have longer text on top than on bottom.

def some_non_breaking_spacing(s)
  words = s.split(/\s+/).reverse
  first_word = words.shift
  html_tokens = [first_word]
  chars_since_normal_space = first_word.length
  max_line_length = [10,first_word.length].max # allow longer than ideal if bottom line is already over that
  words.each_with_object('') { |word, string|
    if chars_since_normal_space + word.length > max_line_length
      html_tokens << ' '
      chars_since_normal_space = word.length
    else
      html_tokens << '&nbsp;'
      chars_since_normal_space += word.length+1
    end
    html_tokens << word
  }
  html_tokens.reverse.join.safe
end