Parser/execution question

ruby-talk
1

I understand that even though you can define variables and methods at the
top level of Ruby like:

a = “hello”

def test
p "test"
end

these are actually at ‘Object’ level. Does this mean that there is scope
open for ‘Object’ at the very top level?

Is the above the same as:

class Object
a = "hello"
def test
p "test"
end
end

How does executing code for the first example differ from executing the code
within a class? Does it even?

At the top level, where is the code being executed?

tia,

···

–
Justin Johnson.

2

these are actually at 'Object' level. Does this mean that there is scope
open for 'Object' at the very top level?

At top level
   * self is an instance of Object
   * class is Object

pigeon% ruby -e 'p self, self.type'
main
Object
pigeon%

methods defined at top level are private methods.

class Object
  a = "hello"
  def test
    p "test"
  end
end

You have defined a public method of Object.

Be carefull with Object#test because ruby define the method Kernel#test

Guy Decoux

3

Ok.

If you have:

a = “hello”

which is a local variable, what is the variable local to?

···

–
Justin Johnson.

“ts” decoux@moulon.inra.fr wrote in message
news:200207171618.g6HGIjx07844@moulon.inra.fr…

these are actually at ‘Object’ level. Does this mean that there is
scope
open for ‘Object’ at the very top level?

At top level

  • self is an instance of Object
  • class is Object

pigeon% ruby -e ‘p self, self.type’
main
Object
pigeon%

methods defined at top level are private methods.

class Object
a = “hello”
def test
p “test”
end
end

You have defined a public method of Object.

Be carefull with Object#test because ruby define the method Kernel#test

Guy Decoux

4

which is a local variable, what is the variable local to?

local to the current scope. A scope is created at top level, like a scope
is created in the body of a class.

Guy Decoux