Overriding methods in a class using a mixin

Ruby
1

Hi list,
I just had this idea and thought I’d share it in case someone can
improve
upon it, make it more robust. Basically, I’ve run into a situation a few
times where I want to override methods in a class but retain access to
old
implementations, the sort of thing people like to use alias_method_chain
for. I tend to favour this approach, though:

class Foo
meth = instance_method(:foo)
define_method(:foo) do |some, args|
result = meth.bind(self).call(some, args)
# do extra stuff…
end
end

But, then you’ve lost the old implementation: it’s hidden in the closure
and
you can’t get another reference to it from anywhere else. So, I’ve come
up
with a way in which you can copy the class’s methods into a module,
include
that module (making it part of the inheritance chain) and then mix other
modules in. Later modules can thereby override the class’s own methods
and
use ‘super’ to refer to them. This lets you insert code between an
existing
class and all its subclasses, which can be useful.

Code on github, with an example:

Comments, suggestions, and accusations of idiocy all very much welcome.
Expanding from this, I’d like to figure out how I can insert modules at
arbitrary points in the inheritance chain, rather than just using
‘include’
to come between a module and it’s last included module.

–
James C.

Lead JavaScript Developer
theOTHERmedia
http://ojay.othermedia.org
+44 (0) 7771512510

2

On Nov 14, 5:02 pm, “James C.” [email protected] wrote:

result = meth.bind(self).call(some, args)

class and all its subclasses, which can be useful.

Code on github, with an example:inherit_from_self.rb · GitHub

Well done. I’ve explored a number of approaches to this is a pretty
good one.

On the downside though the reoccurring binding is going to slow things
down.

Anther approach is to override #new and #extend the object with the
“aspect” module upon creation.

Comments, suggestions, and accusations of idiocy all very much welcome.
Expanding from this, I’d like to figure out how I can insert modules at
arbitrary points in the inheritance chain, rather than just using ‘include’
to come between a module and it’s last included module.

You can just include it in the ancestor you want it to go after. But
of course that’s going to effect all subclasses of that class.

Facets definition of Kernel#at() might interest you though.

T.

3

On Nov 14, 2008, at 3:02 PM, James C. wrote:

class Foo
meth = instance_method(:foo)
define_method(:foo) do |some, args|
result = meth.bind(self).call(some, args)

do extra stuff…

end
end

alias_method_chain_is_crap_because_it_leads_to_madness_like_this

your method is ok but it chops the method in half - dropping blocks
on the floor

check this out

http://drawohara.com/post/7241442/ruby-saner-way-to-redefine-methods

a @ http://codeforpeople.com/

4

your method is ok but it chops the method in half - dropping blocks on
the floor

I made some changes that mean blocks are supported – turns out storing
a
reference to the module a method is defined in is a little messy. I
notice
you look up old methods via the class that’s calling the method, whereas
I
want the exact module storing the method to handle the lookup. Not sure
if
there’s much practical difference but I find my way easier to think
about.

5

On Nov 15, 2008, at 5:33 AM, James C. wrote:

about.

inherit_from_self.rb · GitHub

couple observations after a quick browse

. your override method will not allow one to redefine a method which
takes a block. you cannot say

override(:map) do
list = []
each(&block){|element| list << element} # block does not
exist!
list
end

because you lose the handle on any block passed to the method. any
use of define_method drops a block on the floor.

. m.bind(self).call(*args[0…m.arity], &block)

blows up when arity is negative, which it often is

cfp:~ > ruby -e’ def foo(a,b,*c) end; p
Object.instance_method(:foo).arity ’
-3

. override will blow up stashing methods which may or may not actually
be defined on that class, for instance

override(‘inspect’){ ‘but inspect is not an instance method’ }

the pre-clusion ability is handy for sure though.

cheers.

,
a @ http://codeforpeople.com/