From: Hugh Sasse Staff Elec Eng <hgs@...>
Date: 2001-03-22T02:17:51+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:13039] extending existing classes.

I've run up against something I thought I knew how to solve, but...

class IO
    def outputbit(bit)
        @c = (@c << 1) | bit
        @bitcount += 1
	if ((@bitcount % 8) == 0)
	    putc(c)
            c = 0
        end
    end
end

OK, horribly inefficient, but still.  I have extended IO.  Now, how
do I get IO to initialize @c and @bitcount properly?  Do I

class IO
    rename :initialize :orig_initialize

    def initialize(*args)
        @c = 0
        @bitcount = 0
        old_initialize(args)
    end
end

and will this be picked up by open and so on, or do I do something else?
And should the solution go in the CodingInRuby on the Wiki?

	Hugh