From: bonefry <bellarchitects@...>
Date: 2005-10-02T08:51:47+09:00
Subject: Difference between Class.new and construct literals

Hi,

Sorry if the following is such a n00b question.
But I just don't get 1 thing.

What is the difference between

a = Array.new

and

a = []

Look at the following code:

class Class
    alias oldNew new

    def new(*args)
        puts 'Creating new ' + self.to_s
        oldNew(*args)
    end
end

class Array
    alias oldInit initialize

    def initialize(*args)
        puts 'Initializing Array'
        oldInit(*args)
    end
end

# this works as expected
a = Array.new

# this doesn't work
b = [1,2,3,4]

How is the Array constructed when using literals as in `a = []` ? Why
hasn't the overriding of those 2 methods worked ?