From: Bob Showalter <bob_showalter@...>
Date: 2006-01-06T06:40:58+09:00
Subject: Re: require 101

Brian Buckley wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> What does the return value of a require statement supposed to indicate?
> My
> understanding was that 'true' meant the required library got properly
> loaded.
> 
> When I open a new IRB session and type, say, "require 'builder'" I get a
> false returned.
> 
> require 'builder''
> => false
> 
> However, it appears that the statement does in fact load the library
> (the
> new classes in the library become available, etc).  Why is the statement
> returning false (or how can I diagnose why) and is it something to be
> concerned over?

A false return means the file was already in $", and so wasn't loaded 
again. I'm guessing that some earlier require'd file has already brought 
in builder.rb

If the file can't be found, and exception is raised.