From: Thomas Enebo <Thomas.Enebo@...>
Date: 2007-05-07T08:33:57+09:00
Subject: overriding autoloads with classes and modules


Works (arbitrary constant assignment overrides autoload):
--- autoloaded.rb ---
Foo = 1
--- autoloaded.rb ---

--- main.rb ---
autoload "Foo", "autoloaded.rb"
Foo = 2
assert_equal(2, Foo)
--- main.rb ---

Does not work (override with class OR module definition):
--- main2.rb ---
autoload "Foo", "autoloaded.rb"
class Foo; end
--- main2.rb ---

I had patched JRuby to allow this second case for both modules and 
classes, but then noticed that Ruby 1.8.5 (I did not check 1.9) doesn't 
work (Foo is not a class).   I have undid these changes in JRuby to make 
sure we match MRI behavior.

Is this a bug?  From my perspective I think if you allow object 
assignment to work to override autoloads you should also allow class or 
module definition to do it as well.

-Tom

--
Thomas E Enebo <thomas.enebo@sun.com>
JRuby Core Developer, http://www.bloglines.com/blog/ThomasEEnebo