On Thursday,  8 May 2003 at 21:43:05 +0900, Mauricio FernáÏdez wrote:
> On Thu, May 08, 2003 at 09:05:56PM +0900, Jim Freeze wrote:
> > On Thursday,  8 May 2003 at 19:33:43 +0900, Tim Bates wrote:
> > > On Thu, May 08, 2003 at 07:07:37PM +0900, Jim Freeze wrote:
> > > > So, this is a new way to circument access privelages?
> > > 
> > > No, not really. You've always been able to do it, with
> > > Object#instance_eval.
> > 
> > Right. This is yet another way to circumvent access privelages.
> > #send is another.
> > 
> > This method is even better (worse) than instance_eval,
> > it gives you a list of instance variable names.
> 
> We can just add it to our list of evil methods :-)
>  
> Seriously, I wouldn't call this "a new way to circumvent access
> privileges". It is so easy to neglect them that they are mostly a hint
> for the programmer ("you're not expected to play with this, but had better
> know what you're doing otherwise").  This is good however as Ruby is
> not only a man-machine language but also man-man (check ts' postings ;-)
 
I'm not trying to be contrary, but I would claim that it is 'new'
simply because the method names are new.
Nevertheless, #instance_variables is a great tool for reflection.


-- 
Jim Freeze
----------
Nihilism should commence with oneself.