InfoQ Presentation: MetaProgramming Ruby

Posted by Werner Schuster on Dec 07, 2007

Sections

Development,

Architecture & Design

Topics

Programming ,

Ruby ,

Language ,

Ruby on Rails ,

Domain Specific Languages

Tags

Metaprogramming ,

Qcon London 2006 ,

Ruby on Rails

Metaprogramming is one of the technologies used to implement some distinctive Ruby on Rails features such as has_many. In this presentation, Dave Thomas (PragDave) focuses on the Ruby features that make metaprogramming possible:

• Class definitions are active - they get executed
  This allows to execute custom code when a class gets first loaded.
• All method calls have a receiver, i.e. a self object
  A crucial fact in Ruby - Dave explains how self some methods of metaprogramming work with manipulating self.
• Classes are objects too
• Open and singleton classes - it's always possible to add members to classes

Other topics include how to use eval flexibly with bindings and more.

Check out "MetaProgramming Ruby".

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   This is cool!!!

   by Jure Srsen

   Tnx. It would be really nice if more Ruby presentations like this would be available.

   Reply

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   eph

   by Andrei Zinca

   An otherwise good presentation ruined by an awful, macabre joke.

   Reply

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   problems

   by jimmy coyne

   Is any body else having problems viewing this presentation?

   Reply

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   Re: problems

   by Sean Cribbs

   +1

   Reply

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   Re: problems

   by johan andries

   On Windows, for me it works in IE but not in FireFox.

   Reply

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   able to download this?

   by Hrafn Nordhri

   Are we able to download this?

   Reply

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