Calldata Coders & Helpers
calldata - Calldata.encode / Calldata.decode using utf8_to_hex and hex_to_utf8 helpers and more for inscriptions / inscribes for ethereum & co
- home :: github.com/s6ruby/rubidity
- bugs :: github.com/s6ruby/rubidity/issues
- gem :: rubygems.org/gems/calldata
- rdoc :: rubydoc.info/gems/calldata
What’s Ethscription Calldata - Ethereum Inscription / Inscribe?!
Usage
Let’s start with the Calldata encode/decode helpers. In an inscribe the data gets encoded in the the calldata (hexdata notes) of a transaction. The calldata is a binary blob. Note: This gem uses hexstrings for binary blobs.
Option 1: Use the “low-level” global utf8_to_hex and hex_to_utf8 helper methods:
“by require ‘calldata’
hex = utf8_to_hex( “Hello, World!” )
=> “48656c6c6f2c20576f726c6421”
utf8 = hex_to_utf8( “48656c6c6f2c20576f726c6421” )
=> “Hello, World!”
hex = utf8_to_hex( “data:image/png;base64,…” )
=> “646174613a696d6167652f706e673b6261736536342c2e2e2e”
utf8 = hex_to_utf8( “646174613a696d6167652f706e673b6261736536342c2e2e2e” )
=> “data:image/png;base64,…”
“
Option 2: Use the Calldata module helper methods encode/encode_utf8 and decode/decode_hex:
“uby hex = Calldata.encode( “Hello, World!” )
=> “48656c6c6f2c20576f726c6421”
utf8 = Calldata.decode( “0x48656c6c6f2c20576f726c6421” )
=> “Hello, World!”
hex = Calldata.encode( “data:image/png;base64,…” )
=> “646174613a696d6167652f706e673b6261736536342c2e2e2e”
utf8 = Calldata.decode( “0x646174613a696d6167652f706e673b6261736536342c2e2e2e” )
=> “data:image/png;base64,…”
“
Note: The hex_to_utf8 helper (incl. Calldata.decode) works with or without leading 0x in hexstrings.
Data URIs / URLs
Let’s continue with the built-in data uri/url machinery. A valid inscribe must use a valid data uri/url in the calldata.
The “useless” (null) minimum is:
“uby
data_uri = “data:,”
Calldata.valid_data?( data_uri )
=> true
data = Calldata.parse_data( data_uri ) # returns a Calldata::Text object data.type #=> “text/plain” data.text #=> “”
“
Let’s try the (genesis) inscribe no. 0:
“uby data_uri = “data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgAAZABkAAD/7AARRHV…”
Calldata.valid_data?( data_uri )
=> true
data = Calldata.parse_data( data_uri ) # returns a Calldata::Blob object data.type #=> “image/jpeg” data.blob #=>
Maruku could not parse this XML/HTML:
<blob>
let’s save the jpeg image (blob)
data.write( “0.jpeg” )
“
and voila!

Let’s try the inscribe no. 15:
“uby data_uri = “data:image/png;base64,/9j/4gxYSUNDX1BST0ZJTEUAAQEAAAxITGlubwIQAAB…”
Calldata.valid_data?( data_uri )
=> true
data = Calldata.parse_data( data_uri ) # returns a Calldata::Blob object data.type #=> “image/png” data.blob #=>
Maruku could not parse this XML/HTML:
<blob>
let’s save the png image (blob)
data.write( “15.png” )
“
and voila!

Let’s try a (structured) protocol message inscribe:
“uby data_uri = %Qdata:,"p":"erc-20","op":"mint","tick":"eths","id":"16888","amt":"1000"
Calldata.valid_data?( data_uri )
=> true
data = Calldata.parse_data( data_uri ) # returns a Calldata::Msg object data.type #=> “application/json”
data[p] #=> “erc-20” data[op] #=> “mint” data[tick] #=> “eths” data[id] #=> “16888” data[amt] #=> “1000”
“
or use the convenience all-in-one parse_hex helper:
“uby hex = “0x646174613a2c7b2270223a226572632d3230222c226f70223a226d696e74222c227469636b223a2265746873222c226964223a223136383838222c22616d74223a2231303030227d”
data = Calldata.parse_hex( hex ) # returns a Calldata::Msg object data.type #=> “application/json”
data[p] #=> “erc-20” data[op] #=> “mint” data[tick] #=> “eths” data[id] #=> “16888” data[amt] #=> “1000”
“
That’s it for now.
Bonus - More Blockchain (Crypto) Tools, Libraries & Scripts In Ruby
See /blockchain at the ruby code commons (rubycocos) org.
Questions? Comments?
Join us in the Rubidity (community) discord (chat server). Yes you can. Your questions and commentary welcome.
Or post them over at the Help & Support page. Thanks.