From: Eric Hodel <drbrain@...7.net>
Date: 2006-04-11T03:15:37+09:00
Subject: Re: new/initialize

On Apr 10, 2006, at 11:07 AM, Tom Allison wrote:

> When I call
> Obj.new()
>
> I actually call the
> clall Obj
>   def initialize()
>   end
> end

Not exactly.  You call Object::new.  Object::new calls initialize  
after allocating a new instance.

> so there is an implied connection between new() and initialize()?

There is an explicit connection between Object::new and  
Object#initialize

Object::new is implemented something like this, but in C:

class Object
   def self.new(*args, &block)
     obj = allocate
     obj.send(:initialize, *args, &block)
     return obj
   end
end

> Historically is there some reason why we didn't just stick with the
> 'def new()'
> or did I miss something.

That would be an instance method.  Object::new is a class method.

-- 
Eric Hodel - drbrain@segment7.net - http://blog.segment7.net
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