From: Ilias Lazaridis <ilias@...>
Date: 2005-04-20T13:54:32+09:00
Subject: [EVALUATION] - E03d - The Ruby Object Model (End Game)

[EVALUATION] - E03c - The Ruby Object Model (Revised Documentation)
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.lang.ruby/msg/b72b4a3bfd81a48e?hl=en

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the above thread went a little out of control.

The mostly discussed point (inherits from nil) has evolved and

please focus on the essence:

which is the term "metaclass"

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cmd:> ri Class


"Classes, modules, and objects are interrelated. In the diagram that
follows, the arrows represent inheritance, and the parentheses
meta-classes. All metaclasses are instances of the class `Class'."

                           +------------------+
                           |                  |
             Object---->(Object)              |
              ^  ^        ^  ^                |
              |  |        |  |                |
              |  |  +-----+  +---------+      |
              |  |  |                  |      |
              |  +-----------+         |      |
              |     |        |         |      |
       +------+     |     Module--->(Module)  |
       |            |        ^         ^      |
  OtherClass-->(OtherClass)  |         |      |
                             |         |      |
                           Class---->(Class)  |
                             ^                |
                             |                |
                             +----------------+

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The above documentation is false.

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The mentioned metaclasses like "(Class)" are not existent and not 
accessible whilst using standard Class/Object mechanisms.

The term "metaclasses" could be exchanged with e.g. "internal 
representations of class definitions" or anything adequate.

This is _not_ the same with a metaclass (which must be a _class_).

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See the UML diagramm "TheRubyObjectModel" (V1.3) for a corrected 
clarifying version:

http://lazaridis.com/case/lang/ruby/

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If I am wrong, please show me how to access the metaclass:

ClassMetaClass = Class.???

ClassMetaClass.<class operations / access>

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please avoid usage of libraries, excessive code etc. We are talking 
about an oject-model, which should simply... exist!

so, which is the cleanes and simplest way to get access to the "metaclass"?

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I like to remind you, that evaluators coming from C++, Smalltalk, Java 
etc. are not intrested in the specialities of a language (especially if 
they are not necessary).

The developers and the community should be capable to use 
standard-terminology to explain the ruby model.

Otherwise: who should take you serious?

..

-- 
http://lazaridis.com