template for public gems using Helix?

[djudd]

It would be nice if there were instructions on how to get to a point where "gem install $gem_that_uses_helix" will "just work" for at least a large subset of users.

This might take the form of instructions on how to create an extconf.rb that will build the gem on most platforms, but I think ideally it would take the form of instructions on how to create binaries as part of a build process, say with Travis, so that users on mainstream platforms don't have to install a Rust compiler in order to use your gem. It seems like it should be possible to do this for Linux and OS X, at least.

Motivation: I have a public gem which I've converted from FFI to use Helix: https://github.com/djudd/human-name-rb

The code conversion was pretty straightforward and I got a 100+% speed improvement, which was great! But I've since spent more time trying to get at-least-kinda-reproducible binary builds set up using Travis than I did on the original conversion, and it's been a slog.

I would be happy to collaborate on this, if folks find the approach I've taken roughly right and want to help me get it to the point where it could be something recommended in Helix docs.

[hone]

This might be related to #109.

[hone]

@djudd Does #116 help here?