# Irb: Is it possible to automatically create a subsession on startup? **URL:** \ **Category:** ruby-talk\ **Created:** [28 October 2008 17:19 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/irb-is-it-possible-to-automatically-create-a-subsession-on-startup/49885 "2008-10-28T17:19:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wfisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@wfisk](https://rubytalk.org/u/wfisk)\ **Post date:** [28 October 2008 17:19 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/irb-is-it-possible-to-automatically-create-a-subsession-on-startup/49885/1 "2008-10-28T17:19:37Z")
In irb I can create an object and then create a new subsession with that object as the context. For example in irb I can type   $psauto = PSAuto::Automator.new   irb $psauto Now I can call all the methids of $psauto without having to type the '$psauto' each time. Is it possible to put these two lines into an irb config file so that I do not have to type them every time I start irb? ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_Pack4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@Roger\_Pack4](https://rubytalk.org/u/Roger_Pack4)\ **Post date:** [28 October 2008 18:22 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/irb-is-it-possible-to-automatically-create-a-subsession-on-startup/49885/2 "2008-10-28T18:22:24Z")
> Is it possible to put these two lines into an irb config file so that > I do not have to type them every time I start irb? I believe there's a ~/.irbrc -=R > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C). ---
**Author:** ![William\_Fisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ec9cab/32.png) [@William\_Fisk](https://rubytalk.org/u/William_Fisk)\ **Post date:** [28 October 2008 19:35 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/irb-is-it-possible-to-automatically-create-a-subsession-on-startup/49885/3 "2008-10-28T19:35:34Z")
yes I am using .irbrc, but it doesn't work when you pur 'irb $psauto' in it. At least it doesn't work for me > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Joel\_VanderWerf1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/94ad74/32.png) [@Joel\_VanderWerf1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Joel_VanderWerf1)\ **Post date:** [28 October 2008 20:03 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/irb-is-it-possible-to-automatically-create-a-subsession-on-startup/49885/4 "2008-10-28T20:03:58Z")
William Fisk wrote: > yes I am using .irbrc, but it doesn't work when you pur > 'irb $psauto' in it. At least it doesn't work for me Try this in .irbrc: module IRB    def IRB.start\_session(\*args)      unless $irb        IRB.setup nil      end      workspace = WorkSpace.new(\*args)      if @CONF[:SCRIPT] ## normally, set by parse\_opts        $irb = Irb.new(workspace, @CONF[:SCRIPT])      else        $irb = Irb.new(workspace)      end      @CONF[:IRB\_RC].call($irb.context) if @CONF[:IRB\_RC]      @CONF[:MAIN\_CONTEXT] = $irb.context      trap 'INT' do        $irb.signal\_handle      end      custom\_configuration if defined?(IRB.custom\_configuration)      catch :IRB\_EXIT do        $irb.eval\_input      end    end end x = Object.new puts "\nStarted irb shell for x" IRB.start\_session(x) > **···** > > -- >        vjoel : Joel VanderWerf : path berkeley edu : 510 665 3407 ---
**Author:** ![William\_Fisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ec9cab/32.png) [@William\_Fisk](https://rubytalk.org/u/William_Fisk)\ **Post date:** [28 October 2008 20:48 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/irb-is-it-possible-to-automatically-create-a-subsession-on-startup/49885/5 "2008-10-28T20:48:43Z")
Joel, Thanks for that. Unfortunately it doesn't work for me. I get lots of errors like the following /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant UnrecognizedSwitch /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant NotImplementedError /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant CantReturnToNormalMode /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant IllegalParameter /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant IrbAlreadyDead /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant IrbSwitchedToCurrentThread /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant NoSuchJob /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant CantShiftToMultiIrbMode /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant CantChangeBinding However, I googled "IRB.start\_session" and found some other interesting post and replies (all by you I think!); and I can see other things are possible. I'm going to look at this again tomorrow. Thanks William > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Joel\_VanderWerf1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/94ad74/32.png) [@Joel\_VanderWerf1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Joel_VanderWerf1)\ **Post date:** [28 October 2008 20:55 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/irb-is-it-possible-to-automatically-create-a-subsession-on-startup/49885/6 "2008-10-28T20:55:13Z")
William Fisk wrote: > Joel, > > Thanks for that. Unfortunately it doesn't work for me. > I get lots of errors like the following > > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant UnrecognizedSwitch > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant NotImplementedError > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant CantReturnToNormalMode > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant IllegalParameter > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant IrbAlreadyDead > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant IrbSwitchedToCurrentThread > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant NoSuchJob > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant CantShiftToMultiIrbMode > /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/1.8/e2mmap.rb:152: warning: already initialized constant CantChangeBinding > > However, I googled "IRB.start\_session" and found some other interesting post and replies (all by you I think!); and I can see other things are possible. > I'm going to look at this again tomorrow. > > Thanks > > William Sorry, cut-and-paste error ☹ Removing the        IRB.setup nil call should help. Here's the code for .irbrc: module IRB    def IRB.start\_session(\*args)      workspace = WorkSpace.new(\*args)      if @CONF[:SCRIPT] ## normally, set by parse\_opts        $irb = Irb.new(workspace, @CONF[:SCRIPT])      else        $irb = Irb.new(workspace)      end      @CONF[:IRB\_RC].call($irb.context) if @CONF[:IRB\_RC]      @CONF[:MAIN\_CONTEXT] = $irb.context      trap 'INT' do        $irb.signal\_handle      end      custom\_configuration if defined?(IRB.custom\_configuration)      catch :IRB\_EXIT do        $irb.eval\_input      end    end end x = Object.new puts "\nStarted irb shell for x" IRB.start\_session(x) > **···** > > -- >        vjoel : Joel VanderWerf : path berkeley edu : 510 665 3407 ---
**Author:** ![William\_Fisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ec9cab/32.png) [@William\_Fisk](https://rubytalk.org/u/William_Fisk)\ **Post date:** [28 October 2008 21:13 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/irb-is-it-possible-to-automatically-create-a-subsession-on-startup/49885/7 "2008-10-28T21:13:46Z")
Hey Joel, Thanks man, that works. I did start looking at the IRB code but it was too complicated for me. Now time for bed. > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/).