From: GGarramuno@... (GGarramuno)
Date: 2003-12-31T02:21:51+09:00
Subject: And yet again more silly questions...

1) Is there any "which" or "where" command in ruby?  That is, a
command that will tell me which .rb, .so or so on defines the object,
function or type (searching all appropiate paths --and files-- if
needed)?

2) Overloading/Inheritance question.

   Is there a way to call the .so functions from ruby directly?
   I'd like to overload the String=~ operator, but I'd like to
eventually still call the native String=~ (which I assume is C code). 
That is:
    class String
        def =~(pat)
            # do something, like, say, count the regex calls
            C++::super(pat) # call original =~
        end
    end

If not possible, can I create my own string class inheriting from
String, but then alias it so all code calls my string class (even if I
create a sinple "blah" string constant and even code that is not my
own?)?

Also, what is the relationship between =~, index(), rindex(), match()
and the subs()?  That is, is there a way to just overload a, say,
protected function and effect all regex at the same time?  Or am I
bound to need to overload each individually?