Meta-programming in Ruby : Part 1 : Alias

There are altogether 16 posts on this topic of meta-programming in Ruby language. Our approach encourages hands-on experimentation. The exercises here are specially designed to facilitate self-study and other independent modes of learning.

Provided we can find time amidst our busy schedule(well, who is not busy these days?), we will also discuss meta-programming in other languages such as Lisp and python.

Code 1

class A
 def fan;
     puts "fan";
 end
def feast;
     puts "feast";
 end
end
a= A.new
a.fan
a.feast
class A
 alias :flank :fan
 alias :foo :feast
 private :fan
end
begin
a.fan
rescue
 puts ">>>>>>   private method `fan' called for #",
      ">>>>>>   Accessible unless declared \"private\" as above"
end
a.feast
a.foo
a.flank
puts "\n\n"

class Z
 attr_accessor :gear
 alias :get_gear    :gear
 alias :set_gear    :gear=
end

zoe =Z.new
zoe.gear = 34
puts zoe.gear

zoe.set_gear(34)
puts zoe.get_gear 

Results 1

[root@localhost ruby_tutor]# ruby 1alias.rb
fan
feast
>>>>>>   private method `fan' called for #
>>>>>>   Accessible unless declared "private" as above
feast
feast
fan


34
34

Code 2

class String
   alias_method :original_reverse, :reverse

   def reverse
     "Trying to reverse, please wait ... "+ original_reverse
   end
end
p "happy holy days".original_reverse

p "happy holy days".reverse

Results 2

[root@localhost ruby_tutor]# ruby   2alias_method1.rb
"syad yloh yppah"
"Trying to reverse, please wait ... syad yloh yppah"