From: Louis J Scoras <louis.j.scoras@...>
Date: 2006-05-06T11:01:14+09:00
Subject: Re: Extending Core Classes - Best Practices

To be safe, you might just want to subclass String instead:

    #!/usr/bin/env ruby

    class VWord < String
      V_VOC = %w{freddled gruntbuggly miturations} # ...
      V_RGX = Regexp.new( V_VOC.join('|'), ?i )

      def vogon?
        V_RGX === self
      end
    end

    word = VWord.new 'freddled'
    p word.vogon?

    word = VWord.new 'foobar'
    p word.vogon?

Sure.  It's annoying to have to call the constructor everywhere but at
least you don't mess up everyone who wants to use String.  I agree
with Robert that it's probably alright for short scripts, but then
again you know what happens when scripts decide to hang around longer
than you intended =)



--
Lou