From: gwtmp01@...
Date: 2005-07-20T09:19:15+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby/Rails as a starter language?


On Jul 19, 2005, at 7:20 PM, Daniel Amelang wrote:
>> In Java, classes aren't objects.
>>
>
> Sorry Hal:
> http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/reflect/class/index.html

In Java, the "class" objects that can be examined at run-time
via the Reflection API are just static data-structures that
describe the source code used to create the run-time.

I'm sure I'll be corrected but the distinction between Ruby and Java
here is that in Ruby the "class object" is "alive" and is in
fact part of the run-time of the system.  If you modify a
class object, you modify the run-time behavior of the system.
In Ruby you get to play in the wacky world of "self-modifying" code.

In Java the "class objects" are a dead, static representation of
the code used to create the runtime.  Even if you could modify
those data structures that wouldn't affect the run-time behavior
of the system.  You might as well try to affect the run-time
system by reading and writing the source code files.




Gary Wright