From: MonkeeSage <MonkeeSage@...>
Date: 2006-09-25T05:05:11+09:00
Subject: Re: Adding a new method to a class

Mickael Faivre-Macon wrote:
> What is called the process of adding a new method of an already defined class ?

Hi Mickael,

I'm not sure of any official technical name but I often see "extend"
used for a previously undefined method and "override" for redefining an
existing method.

> What if I want to declare a new class variable in the initialize method ?
> If it's a derived class I can call super:
> def initialize
>    super
>    @my_var = ""
> end
>
> but if it not derived ?
> How can I do this ?

Well a @var is an instance variable, a class variable has two @, like
@@var. but in either case, you would just add it (in ruby you just
assign to a variable and it comes into existence, not need to "declare"
them any special way).

class Tree
  def initialize
    @cat = 'in it'
    @@dog = 'bark'
  end
end

Regards,
Jordan