From: Mike Glaz <lists@...>
Date: 2012-06-10T04:43:44+09:00
Subject: Class variables and self

I'm currently reading The Well-Grounded Rubyist.  In the section about
class variables, instance variables, and self they have this class as an
example:

class Car
  @@makes = []
  @@cars = {}

  attr_reader :make

  def self.total_count
    @total_count || 0
  end

  def self.total_count=(n)
    @total_count = n
  end

  def self.add_make(make)
    unless @makes.include?(make)
      @@makes << make
      @@cars[make] = 0
    end
  end

  def initialize(make)
    if @@makes.include?(make)
      puts "Creating a new #{make}!"
      @make = make
      self.class.total_count += 1
    else
      raise "No such make: #{make}."
    end
  end

  def make_mates
    @@cars[self.make]
  end
end

My question is in the initialize method about the line:

  self.class.total_count += 1

what is the purpose of the 'class' in that statement?

thanks,
mike

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