Regexp.optimized_union(word_list, regexp_options) generates optimized regexp for matching union of word list.

Install:

gem ins regexp_optimized_union

Use:

require 'regexp_optimized_union'
Regexp.optimized_union(%w[bazfoo bazfoobar bazbar]) #=> /baz(?:foo(?:bar)?|bar)/
Regexp.optimized_union(%w[fooabar foobbar], 'i')    #=> /foo[ab]bar/i
Regexp.optimized_union(%w[foobar fooabar foogabar]) #=> /foo(?:|a|ga)bar/

Caveats:

• All words in the list will be escaped.
• Matching time for the light but compile time for the dark, you are the balance between them.

Optimizations include:

• Treed common prefix extraction.
• Common suffix aggregation.
• If 4 or more contiguous chars exist in a char group, they are turned into char range.
• Optional leaf to ?.

Mostly the same as described in http://search.cpan.org/~dankogai/Regexp-Optimizer-0.15/lib/Regexp/List.pm#IMPLEMENTATION

License (WTFPL)

DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION

0. You just DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO.