From: Ezra Zygmuntowicz <ezmobius@...>
Date: 2006-07-19T02:55:20+09:00
Subject: Re: Preferred monkeypatching technique


On Jul 18, 2006, at 10:36 AM, James Britt wrote:

> Hal Fulton wrote:
>> dblack@wobblini.net wrote:
>>>
>>> I don't know whether it qualifies as "monkeypatching" (I always
>>> thought that meant doing something sloppy and ill-advised, which I
>>> hope I'm not :-) but see if this helps:
>> Actually it was only last week that I first saw this term
>> being used in the Ruby community. I wonder if it's too
>> late to squash it?
>
> Let's hope not.
>
> I believe it comes from the Python community. Python (I think)  
> allows for something similar to Ruby's ability to modify any and  
> all classes, but my (limited) understanding is that there are  
> enough differences between the two that what is reasonable and  
> proper in Ruby is not quite so elegant or appropriate in Python.   
> The term may be correct for Python, but in Ruby this is just a  
> normal and correct way to use the language.
>
>
> The use of the term indicates unease with, and lack of  
> understanding of, Ruby on the part of the speaker, rather than  
> describing anything about Ruby.
>
> -- 
> James Britt


Aparenhtly the term originated as Guerilla patch. As in Guerilla  
warfare ;) And it was misunderstood and ended up being called monkey  
patch. Interesting read here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-Patch


-Ezra