From: Jay McGavren <jay@...>
Date: 2007-07-30T08:40:45+09:00
Subject: Append (<<) to Array attributes of DRb objects?

When working locally with an object whose attribute is meant to store
an array, I have no problem making calls like:

object.items << new_item

If I try to do the same thing with a DRb object, though, appending has
no effect on the remote object.  I've distilled the problem down to
this example...


My server:

require 'drb'
class TestServer
attr_accessor :items
def initialize
	@items = []
end
def add_item(item)
	@items << item
end
def add
	sum = 0
	@items.each {|item| sum += item}
	sum
end
end
server = TestServer.new
DRb.start_service('druby://localhost:9000', server)
DRb.thread.join


My client:

require 'drb'
DRb.start_service()
obj = DRbObject.new(nil, 'druby://localhost:9000')
obj.items << 1 #No effect.
obj.items << 2 #No effect.
items = [1, 2]
obj.items = items #Works.
obj.add_item(1) #Works.
obj.add_item(2) #Works.
puts obj.add #Gives '6' instead of '9'.


I'd rather my client programs be able to use append (<<) instead of an
add_item(item) method or direct assignment.  How can I do this?