From: Paul Prescod <paulp@...>
Date: 2001-11-23T05:08:57+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:26173] Re: Linux Magazine article

Michael Schuerig wrote:
> 
>...
> 
> I take this to mean that one can add new methods to existing Ruby
> classes without changing the original code. This seems like such an
> innocent feature, but one that can be incredibly helpful -- and sorely
> missing in languages that don't support it. Forget about all those
> static "helper" methods that you need to write in other languages. Just
> add the methods you need to the classes where they belong.

What if one of your co-workers is using the same class and adds a
different method of the same name accidentally? Unless you have a
solution for that, I think that helper functions are a safer approach.
Classes are "global variables". When you start mutating them you run
into the same problems you run into with other mutable global variables.
You need to exercise project-wide discipline which is typically quite
difficult.

 Paul Prescod