From: Eric Jacoboni <jacoboni@...2.fr>
Date: 2001-05-04T23:11:23+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:14636] Yet another "About private methods" question

I'm still trying to figure out the semantics of private methods in Ruby.

If i create the following class:

class Foo
 def speak
   puts "I'm foo"
 end
private
 def nono
   puts "Private code"
 end
end

and the following code :

myfoo = Foo.new

myfoo.speak
myfoo.nono

i get the expected results:
Foo.rb:14: private method `nono' called for #<Foo:0x80801e0> (NameError)

If a create a subclass:

class Bar < Foo
  def speak
   puts "I'm bar"
 end
 def nono
   super
   puts "Public code"
 end
end

and the following code :

mybar = Bar.new

mybar.speak
mybar.nono

I get:

I'm bar
Private code
Public code

So my use of 'private', above, don't have the semantic i used to
consider, as anyone is able to call a private method simply by creating
a subclass.

Is there a mechanism allowing creation of "true" (from my point of
vue) private methods, ie not exported, even in subclasses ?

Feel free to send me a RTFM with a pointer. Perhaps my bad english is
responsible of my misunderstanding...
-- 
Eric Jacoboni -- IUP NTIE Universitde Toulouse II.