From: Chad Fowler <chad@...>
Date: 2003-11-06T00:58:58+09:00
Subject: Re: Managing metadata about attribute types

On Wed, 5 Nov 2003, Richard Kilmer wrote:

# 
# This goes beyond just setting attributes.  Many methods need parameters
# that are not simply attr_accessor methods.  Those parameters are
# going to be an object.  The question is whether you write your methods
# to expect a certain "namespace" (Class/Module), or just simply a set
# of behaviors.
# 

Thank you, Rich.  This is the first time I remember seeing classes and 
modules referred to as "namespaces".  In the Ruby world, this is really 
the way to think about them.  Classes and modules are, among other things, 
a method of grouping behaviors.  And, like other namespaces, this set of 
behaviors might change.  So, testing for the namespace is rarely useful.  

Testing for the namespace (Class of an object) is the equivalent of 
expecting someone to send you a document on how to drive a car, and 
verifying the document by checking to see that it came from the "Driving" 
directory on the sender's harddrive.

Chad