From: Chris Cummer <chris@...>
Date: 2007-12-20T12:04:08+09:00
Subject: Re: Monkey patching a private method?

On 19-Dec-07, at 11:43 AM, Wes Gamble wrote:

> I have found an issue with a method in a library that I'm using.  I
> would like to modify this method via a monkey patch, but it is a  
> private
> method, and I'm not seeming to get my patch to work.
>
> Can the following be done?  Assume a private method "meth" in class
> Mod::Kls.
>
> module Mod
>  class Kls
>  private
>    def meth(arg1)
>      @stuff = things
>    end
>  end
> end
>
> Thanks,
> Wes


If I understand correctly what you're intending, you can sort'a get  
around it via the following technique in which the public priv_meth()  
over-rides the private one. This is not ideal though since it leaves  
priv_meth() public. Is this what you're thinking?


class TestClass
	def pub_meth
		return priv_meth()
	end

private
	def priv_meth
		return "cat"
	end
end


#=begin
class TestClass
   def priv_meth
     return "dog"
   end
end
#=end

a = TestClass.new
puts a.pub_meth
puts a.priv_meth