From: "Ara.T.Howard" <Ara.T.Howard@...>
Date: 2005-07-03T05:30:45+09:00
Subject: Re: Loading a file without cluttering the global namespace

On Sat, 2 Jul 2005, Benjamin Hepp wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I'm trying to build a module-mechanism in ruby so that I am able to load a
> ruby-file without cluttering up the global namespace of the program.
>
> For example I want to be able to load a ruby-file, search for methods in
> it, possibly execute one of them and then "unload" the file. When I call
> Kernel#load with wrap = true, everything of the new file is put into an
> anonymous Module, but every other file loaded in the new file itself is
> put into the global namespace again.
>
> My questions:
>
> Is it at all possible to prevent this? If so, how to do it?
> Can I access the anonymous Module in an easy manner?
> How to delete/undefine a class or a method?
>
> Thanks in advance
>  Benjamin Hepp

i use a similar pattern for loading 'subscriptions' in our near-realtime
system.  a subscription is a dynamically loaded class for which and instance
is created and then it's run method is called.  to support doing this without
killing the global namespace i write this

   http://raa.ruby-lang.org/project/dynaload/

it should be just what you are looking for.

cheers.

-a
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