From: Chan Sammy <csammy@...>
Date: 2007-12-18T02:42:23+09:00
Subject: Difference between alias and alias_method

In the example below, I really can't sort out why using alias_method
will work, while using alias won't. Could someone shred me some light
on this? Thanks.

class T
 def initialize()
   puts "T's initialize"
 end
 def self.redefine
   alias old_initialize initialize
   #alias_method :old_initialize, :initialize
   self.module_eval do
     define_method :initialize do
       old_initialize(1)
     end
   end
 end
end

class S < T
 def initialize(int)
   puts "S's initialize:#{int}"
 end
 redefine()
end
S.new

==========================
Using alias:
in `old_initialize': wrong number of arguments (1 for 0) (ArgumentError)
(T's initialize was called)

Using alias_method:
S's initialize:1
(S's initialize was called, as expected)