From: Eric Hodel <drbrain@...7.net>
Date: 2005-01-31T14:02:12+09:00
Subject: Re: new vs. initialize

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On 30 Jan 2005, at 20:49, Jeff Davis wrote:

> If MyClass.new calls the initialize method, what calls the new method? 
> What if both are defined?

You call the new method on a Class when you want a new instance of that 
class.
The class calls #initialize to set up the instance for you.

Here's how the two tie together in Ruby, expressed as Ruby code.

class MyClass
   def self.new(*args, &block) # class method
	puts "called MyClass.new"
     obj = allocate
     # #initialize is a private method, so we use send to invoke it.
     obj.send :initialize, *args, &block
     return obj
   end

   def initialize # instance method
     puts "called MyClass#initialize"
   end
end

p MyClass.new

# => called MyClass.new
# => called MyClass#initialize
# => #<MyClass:0x13356c>


-- 
Eric Hodel - drbrain@segment7.net - http://segment7.net
FEC2 57F1 D465 EB15 5D6E  7C11 332A 551C 796C 9F04

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