From: Trans <transfire@...>
Date: 2008-10-22T20:08:10+09:00
Subject: Re: Why ??



On Oct 22, 2:50 am, Kyung won Cheon <kdrea...@gmerce.co.kr> wrote:
> ## in irb
>
>
>
> >> self
> => main
> >> def why?
> >> end
> => nil
> >> self.why?
> => nil
>
> ## in test.rb
>
> p self        # => main
> def why?
> end
> self.why?     # private method 'why?' called for main:Object
> (NoMethodError)
>
> ## Anyway, one more..
>
> ## in test2.rb
>
> def why?
> end
>
> class A
> end
>
> p A.private_method_defined?(:why?) # true
>
> # How is 'why?' inherited???
> # The 'main' is a instance of Object but it's not a Object?
>
> # I understand if ...
> # class Object
> #   private
> #   def why?
> #   end
> # end
>
> ##############
> # Help Me^^
> ##############

The toplevel object (aka 'main') delegates some module-equivalent
methods to Object class. So when you say

  def why?
  end

What actually happens is:

  class Object
    def why?
    end
    private :why?
  end

Not all module methods are delegated, try using define_method(:why?)
at the toplevel instead and it will bomb.

T.

P.S. Personally, I find the whole setup rather half-baked, and have
continually advocated for the replacement of the current toplevel
object with a self extended module.