From: Joseph McDonald <joe@...>
Date: 2001-08-15T05:25:09+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:19734] Re: class methods and optimizing


CM> Well, I don't know if it would suit you but could you not inherit the class you
CM> want to modify into another class and then make the changes there and use the
CM> new class?? Ie

CM> class MyArray < Array
CM>         def []( *args )
CM>                 1
CM>         end
CM> end

CM> mine = MyArray.new( 5, 10 )
CM> yours = Array.new( 5, 10 )

CM> puts mine[2]
CM> puts yours[2]

CM> In my opinion this is a nice way to do it, the only hard part is thinking up a
CM> decent name.

Yes, that works, but what if I want to install some "cheaters" such
as:

class NilClass
  def +(other)
    other
  end
end

a = {}  # yes, I could do a = Hash.new(0)...
a["key"] += 1  # no need to initialize
puts a["key"]

# no need to initialize
j += 1
puts j

I guess some people would say: "Don't do that!" Which I guess is an
option :-)

There are probably other legitimate reasons to change the workings of
"standard" classes for the scope of methods defined in a file.

thanks,
-joe