From: Ara.T.Howard@...
Date: 2005-04-30T22:44:27+09:00
Subject: Re: instantiating metaclasses, sorta [Was: determining when inside 'class << self']

On Sat, 30 Apr 2005, Mark Hubbart wrote:

> On 4/28/05, Ara.T.Howard <Ara.T.Howard@noaa.gov> wrote:
>>
>> i like a method like this
>>
>>    def inside_metaclass?
>>      # to be implemented
>>    end
>
> While experimenting with this, I discovered something interesting: it
> is possible to instantiate a metaclass. By duping a metaclass, you
> regain the ability to instantiate it, apparently without losing any
> functionality.
>
>  name = "Jack Smith"
>  def name.reverse
>    split.reverse.join ", "
>  end
>  name.reverse  #==> "Smith, Jack"
>
>  # dup name's metaclass
>  nameclass = class << name; self; end.dup
>
>  name2 = nameclass.new  "John Doe"
>  name2.reverse  #==> "Doe, John"
>
> Any thoughts? Am I strange for finding this a bit surprising?

i dunno - but that's cool.

-a
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