The original boids library was created by Jeremy Ashkenas to demonstrate a pure ‘ruby’ library for ruby processing, this updated version has the same goal. However it is updated to make use of Vec3D and Vec2D classes (JRubyArt features) and keyword arguments (ruby-2.1). It also use forwardable. To see usage of now correctly implemented angle (heading) see simple example.

See the full library code below:-

# Boids -- after Tom de Smedt.
# See his Python version: https://nodebox.net/code/index.php/Boids
# This is an example of how a pure-Ruby library can work. Original for
# ruby-processing Jeremy Ashkenas. Reworked, re-factored for JRubyArt 1.0+
# by Martin Prout, features forwardable, keyword args, Vec3D and Vec2D.
class Boid
  attr_accessor :boids, :pos, :vel, :is_perching, :perch_time

  def initialize(boids, pos)
    @boids, @flock = boids, boids
    @pos = pos
    @vel = Vec3D.new
    @is_perching = false
    @perch_time = 0.0
  end

  def cohesion(d:)
    # Boids gravitate towards the center of the flock,
    # Which is the averaged position of the rest of the boids.
    vect = Vec3D.new
    @boids.each do |boid|
      vect += boid.pos unless boid == self
    end
    count = @boids.length - 1.0
    vect /= count
    (vect - pos) / d
  end

  def separation(radius:)
    # Boids don't like to cuddle.
    vect = Vec3D.new
    @boids.each do |boid|
      if boid != self
        dv = pos - boid.pos
        vect += dv if dv.mag < radius
      end
    end
    vect
  end

  def alignment(d:)
    # Boids like to fly at the speed of traffic.
    vect = Vec3D.new
    @boids.each do |boid|
      vect += boid.vel if boid != self
    end
    count = @boids.length - 1.0
    vect /= count
    (vect - vel) / d
  end

  def limit(max:)
    # Tweet, Tweet! The boid police will bust you for breaking the speed limit.
    most = [vel.x.abs, vel.y.abs, vel.z.abs].max
    return if most < max
    scale = max / most.to_f
    @vel *= scale
  end

  def angle
    Vec2D.new(vel.x, vel.y).heading
  end

  def goal(target, d = 50.0)
    # Them boids is hungry.
    (target - pos) / d
  end
end

require 'forwardable'

# The Boids class
class Boids
  include Enumerable
  extend Forwardable
  def_delegators(:@boids, :reject, :<<, :each, :shuffle!, :length, :next)

  attr_reader :has_goal, :perch, :perch_tm, :perch_y

  def initialize
    @boids = []
  end

  def self.flock(n:, x:, y:, w:, h:)
    flock = Boids.new.setup(n, x, y, w, h)
    flock.goal(target: Vec3D.new(w / 2, h / 2, 0))
  end

  def setup(n, x, y, w, h)
    n.times do
      dx, dy = rand(w), rand(h)
      z = rand(200.0)
      self << Boid.new(self, Vec3D.new(x + dx, y + dy, z))
    end
    @x, @y, @w, @h = x, y, w, h
    @scattered = false
    @scatter = 0.005
    @scatter_time = 50.0
    @scatter_i = 0.0
    @perch = 1.0 # Lower this number to divebomb.
    @perch_y = h
    @perch_tm = -> { 25.0 + rand(50.0) }
    @has_goal = false
    @flee = false
    @goal = Vec3D.new
    self
  end

  def scatter(chance = 0.005, frames = 50.0)
    @scatter = chance
    @scatter_time = frames
  end

  def no_scatter
    @scatter = 0.0
  end

  def perch(ground = nil, chance = 1.0, frames = nil)
    @perch_tm = frames.nil? ? -> { 25.0 + rand(50.0) } : frames
    @perch_y = ground.nil? ? @h : ground
    @perch = chance
  end

  def no_perch
    @perch = 0.0
  end

  def goal(target:, flee: false)
    @has_goal = true
    @flee = flee
    @goal = target
    self
  end

  def no_goal
    @has_goal = false
  end

  def constrain
    # Put them boids in a cage.
    dx, dy = @w * 0.1, @h * 0.1
    each do |b|
      b.vel.x += rand(dx) if b.pos.x < @x - dx
      b.vel.x += rand(dy) if b.pos.y < @y - dy
      b.vel.x -= rand(dx) if b.pos.x > @x + @w + dx
      b.vel.y -= rand(dy) if b.pos.y > @y + @h + dy
      b.vel.z += 10.0 if b.pos.z < 0.0
      b.vel.z -= 10.0 if b.pos.z > 100.0
      next unless b.pos.y > perch_y && rand < perch
      b.pos.y = perch_y
      b.vel.y = -(b.vel.y.abs) * 0.2
      b.is_perching = true
      b.perch_time = perch_tm.respond_to?(:call) ? perch_tm.call : perch_tm
    end
  end

  def update(goal: 20.0, limit: 30.0, **args)
    shuffled = args.fetch(:shuffled, true)
    cohesion = args.fetch(:cohesion, 100)
    separation = args.fetch(:separation, 10)
    alignment = args.fetch(:alignment, 5.0)
    # Just flutter, little boids ... just flutter away.
    # Shuffling keeps things flowing smooth.
    shuffle! if shuffled
    m1 = 1.0 # cohesion
    m2 = 1.0 # separation
    m3 = 1.0 # alignment
    m4 = 1.0 # goal
    @scattered = true if !(@scattered) && rand < @scatter
    if @scattered
      m1 = -m1
      m3 *= 0.25
      @scatter_i += 1.0
    end
    if @scatter_i >= @scatter_time
      @scattered = false
      @scatter_i = 0.0
    end
    m4 = 0.0 unless has_goal
    m4 = -m4 if @flee
    each do |b|
      if b.is_perching
        if b.perch_time > 0.0
          b.perch_time -= 1.0
          next
        else
          b.is_perching = false
        end
      end
      v1 = b.cohesion(d: cohesion)
      v2 = b.separation(radius: separation)
      v3 = b.alignment(d: alignment)
      v4 = b.goal(@goal, goal)
      # NB: vector must precede scalar in '*' operation below
      b.vel += (v1 * m1 + v2 * m2 + v3 * m3 + v4 * m4)
      b.limit(max: limit)
      b.pos += b.vel
    end
    constrain
  end
end

Here is the re-factored Flight Patterns Sketch:-

# Description:
# Flight Patterns is that ol' Euruko 2008 demo. 
# Reworked version for JRubyArt version 1.0+
# Usage:
# Drag mouse to steer 'invisible' flock attractor, use 'f' key to toggle flee
require_relative 'boids'

attr_reader :radius

def settings
  full_screen(P3D)
end

def setup
  sphere_detail 8
  color_mode RGB, 1.0
  no_stroke
  shininess 1.0
  specular 0.3, 0.1, 0.1
  emissive 0.03, 0.03, 0.1
  @radius = 0.02 * height
  @click = false
  @flocks = (0..3).map { Boids.flock(n: 20, x: 0, y: 0, w: width, h: height) }
end

def mouse_pressed
  @click = !@click
end

def key_pressed 
  return unless key == 'f'
  @flee = !@flee 
end

def draw
  background 0.05
  ambient_light 0.01, 0.01, 0.01
  light_specular 0.4, 0.2, 0.2
  point_light 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, mouse_x, mouse_y, 190
  @flocks.each_with_index do |flock, i|
    flock.goal(target: Vec3D.new(mouse_x, mouse_y, 0), flee: @flee)
    flock.update(goal: 185, limit: 13.5)
    flock.each do |boid|
      r = radius + (boid.pos.z * 0.15)
      case i
      when 0 then fill 0.55, 0.35, 0.35
      when 1 then fill 0.35, 0.55, 0.35
      when 2 then fill 0.35, 0.35, 0.55
      end
      push_matrix
      point_array = (boid.pos.to_a).map { |p| p  - (r / 2.0) }
      translate *point_array  
      @click ? sphere(r / 2) : oval(0, 0, r, r)
      pop_matrix
    end
  end
end