From: Logan Capaldo <logancapaldo@...>
Date: 2006-01-30T22:51:57+09:00
Subject: Re: misunderstanding the Passing of references


On Jan 30, 2006, at 1:50 AM, Todd S. wrote:

> Just to provide some direct information for anyone who might find this
> and need the help...
>
> The below does indeed solve the problem...
>
> class Model
>   def deep_clone
>     Marshal::load(Marshal.dump(self))
>   end
> end
>
> a = Model.new
> b = Model.deep_clone
>
> Thank you very much for your help.
>
> --  
> Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
>

This isn't perfect but:
class Object
   def deeper_copy
       copy = self.dup
       self.instance_variables.each do |ivar|
             copy.instance_variable_set(ivar,  
self.instance_variable_get(ivar).dup)
        end
       copy
    end
end

Note that this is specifically designed to work for regular style  
classes (ie  ones that store everything in instance variables) and  
for Strings, Arrays and Structs its no better than (but no worse  
than)  #dup. Hence "deeper_copy" instead of "deep_copy"