From: Tim Bates <tim@...>
Date: 2004-03-04T12:45:33+09:00
Subject: Re: Why do inner methods count in outer scope?

Charles Comstock wrote:
> Out of curiosity, why don't you just use an eval to change function
> definitions?

I do. Watch:

def mk_func(:name)
   eval <<-EOF
     def #{name}(foo)
       puts foo
     end
   EOF
end

Even when using eval, you've got to use a def keyword somewhere to 
define a method. As far as I'm concerned, the example above should be 
equivalent to

def mk_func2
   def bar(foo)
     puts foo
   end
end

With the exception of course that the name of the function is not 
dynamic, which is why we use eval in the first place. The point I'm 
making, however, is that the scoping rules for the inner function in 
both examples should be equivalent, and that without the scoping being 
as it is I would be unable to dynamically define methods in this manner.

Tim.

-- 
Tim Bates
tim@bates.id.au