From: James Gray <james@...>
Date: 2009-08-06T21:46:38+09:00
Subject: Re: Kernel's module methods?

On Aug 6, 2009, at 7:32 AM, Brian Candler wrote:

> James Coglan wrote:
>> I think the point being raised is that when you mix a module into a
>> class,
>> the class gains the module's instance methods, but not its
>> module/singleton
>> methods. So it seems that the only way you'd be able to call Kernel's
>> module
>> methods without a receiver would be if `self` were equal to `Kernel`.
>
> Yes, but are you sure they are module methods, not just instance
> methods?

They are "module functions" actually, implemented with this:

------------------------------------------------- Module#module_function
      module_function(symbol, ...)    => self
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Creates module functions for the named methods. These functions
      may be called with the module as a receiver, and also become
      available as instance methods to classes that mix in the module.
      Module functions are copies of the original, and so may be changed
      independently. The instance-method versions are made private. If
      used with no arguments, subsequently defined methods become module
      functions.

         module Mod
           def one
             "This is one"
           end
           module_function :one
         end
         class Cls
           include Mod
           def callOne
             one
           end
         end
         Mod.one     #=> "This is one"
         c = Cls.new
         c.callOne   #=> "This is one"
         module Mod
           def one
             "This is the new one"
           end
         end
         Mod.one     #=> "This is one"
         c.callOne   #=> "This is the new one"

James Edward Gray II