From: "T. Onoma" <transami@...>
Date: 2004-08-24T10:13:05+09:00
Subject: Re: Attr; and Moving Namespaces

On Monday 23 August 2004 02:11 pm, Gavin Sinclair wrote:
> I know of one person who uses it, but his keyboard seems to lack a
> shift key and parentheses, so perhaps his underscore key is also
> broken :)

lol :)

> I dislike 'attr', as the attr_* methods have a clearer intent and
> consistent style.

That's interesting. I'm preparing to release Duckbill and it includes 
modifications to the attribute methods. This is the reason I had asked 
because I was thinking of using attr for my new primary method. Basically 
works like this:

  attr :r, :w=

Which creates a reader and a writer. (It can do other cool things but I'll 
save those for release). Its there a better name?

  def_attr
  attr_def
  attribute
  attributes

> I do wish, however, that Ruby collected attribute metadata so you
> could use it later in the class, to wit:
>
>   class X
>     attr_reader :x, :y
>     attr_accessor :z
>
>     attributes.include? :x         # -> true
>     attribute(:x).writer?          # -> false
>   end
>
> That particular API is the result of less thinking than typing, so
> it's not a literal suggestion; just a germ of an idea.

Actually I can do this with my library (I think). In my library every 
attribute method routes through a single master function called 
"define_attribute". So as long as you use the new methods (and not any of the 
aliased old ones) its a piece of cake. Maybe that's a good reason to loose 
the old functionality altogether.

> > Secondly, if I create a module, is it possible to "reload" it into
> > another namespace? ex-
> >
> > module ObjectModifier
> >   class Object
> >     def new_method
> >       ...
> >     end
> >   end
> > end
> >
> > # reload into toplevel
> > reinclude ObjectModifier  #?
>
> s/reinclude/include/ and give it a try.  I think you'll be pleasantly
> surprised.

I've tried it three times. Unless I'm missing something it doesn't fly:

  module Tes
    class Object
      def t
          puts "x"
      end
    end
  end

  include Tes
  o = Object.new
  o.t

  #=> undefined method `t' for #<Object:0x402a8d7c> (NoMethodError)

Thanks,
T.