From: gwtmp01@...
Date: 2005-05-12T04:25:57+09:00
Subject: Fwd: [ETYMOLOGY] - Sterile Classes / Sterile Meta Classes

David A. Black wrote:

> Matz has also talked about the fact that the singleton class is really
> just one way to implement per-object modification.  He'd mentioned a
> "class-like object" that might not actually be a class.  Some
> questions arose in that context, like:  would there be a class
> interface to it?  what would class << obj; self; end  give you? etc.
>
>

Maybe this is too simple, but why the need to create any sort
of additional container?  The only reason, it seems to me, that we get
confused about this is the unusual notation of "class << obj".
Why not consider per-object methods the same way we consider
per-object variables, as just an integral part of an object.
The notation:

def obj.method; ...; end

supports this idea just fine without having to introduce some
sort of extra container (a class, a module, a pouch, etc).  To
mirror the "class C; end" or "module M; end" notation, how about:

object obj
   def just_obj; end
end

This notation would introduce "object scope" in the same way that
"class C" introduces class scope.  Within object scope, method
definitions are applied to the individual object.  self would refer
to the object and if the named object doesn't exist it would be
instantiated as if Object.new was called the result being bound to
'obj'

Gary Wright



Gary Wright