From: srussell@...01.r6.fs.fed.us (Sean Russell)
Date: 2001-06-15T04:43:31+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:16479] Confusion about alias and alias_method

I programmed myself into a corner and thought of a fix involving 
alias_method... when I tried to implement the fix, I discovered that I'm 
really confused about how alias_method works.

Take the following code:

        class A
                def initialize
		puts "A0"
                end
        end
        class B < A
                def initialize
                        super
		puts "B0"
                end
        end

        class A	# Add some functionality to A
                alias_method :__initialize__, "initialize"
                def initialize x
                        __initialize__
                        puts "A1"
                end
        end
 
        class B
        end

So, now:

     B.new 5     # --> A0\nA1


The first time I wrote this, I tried copying from the Axe book:

     ...
     alias_method :__initialize__, :initialize.inspect
     ...

but this gives me a "undefined method `:initialize' for class `A'" error.  
Why?  "class A ; puts :initialize.inspect ; end" works, so I'd expect 
:initialize.inpect as a method argument for alias_method to work, too.  This 
illustrates my confusion that :initialize.inspect --> ":initialize", but 
alias_method is expecting "initialize" here.

Thanks,

--- SER