From: Student Jr <lists@...>
Date: 2013-02-06T13:20:33+09:00
Subject: Re: using an instance variable inside a method

The key here is "interpreter".  A bare token might either be a reference
to a local variable or to a method on self.  The interpreter interprets
the code as it is being run.  When it hits a bare token, it looks for a
method on self by that name.  If found, it calls it.  If not, it is
assumed to be a local variable.

And method bodies are definitely parsed ONLY when they are declared. 
(Do not forget that 'method =' === 'method=' in the method lookup.

Note that it does NOT try method_missing.  This has major implications
if you are making heavy use of method_missing, as in TGWSNBN.

Using self.method is considered to be really bad form, unless you are
wanting method_missing to be invoked, in which case it is mandatory.
You see a lot of users of TGWSNBN writing junk like that.

As for attributes verses accessors, MK is doing it right.  Just because
o.m is defined, and o has an attribute @m, there is no particular reason
to assume that o.m == o.instance_variable_get(:@m).  There might be
important reasons that o.m = o.instance_variable_get(:@m) * 100 or
whatever.

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