From: Thufir <hawat.thufir@...>
Date: 2012-04-11T22:44:11+09:00
Subject: Re: A Beginner's Question about Metaprogramming

On Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:56:27 +0900, Jan E. wrote:

>> No. Singleton methods are methods that exist only for a single object.
> 
> Well, the singleton methods of a class *are* the class methods.

Can you clarify this?  In Java, class methods are declared with static.  
In ruby, I believe it's @@, but the same upshot.

There's a distinction between class methods and methods of a Singleton, 
to my understanding.  Methods on a singleton are regular methods and 
require the Singleton object to be instantiated, but are most definitely 
not static methods.  I'm not sure about Ruby, but in Java you wouldn't 
instantiate a Math object to call Math.sqrt() or whatever, that would be 
nonsensical.  Class methods don't require an instance, while, to the 
contrary, Singleton *is* an instance.  Or, rather, the only instance.

From a usage standpoint, I think it's half a dozen of one, six of 
another, but they're not the same at all.

Please correct any misunderstandings I have.


thanks,

Thufir