Equivalent of attr_accessor for class variables?

Ruby
1

It is simple to set a class constant in ruby:

class Foo
CLASS_CONSTANT = “never to change”
end

And accessed like this:
Foo::CLASS_CONSTANT

However, I’d like to be able to create a class variable that is easily
accessible (read/write) by outside users without having to write class
accessor methods. How can I do this?

A really ugly way to set the variable without an accessor would be
this:
class Foo; @@class_constant = “newvalue” end
but that is write only.

The syntax:
Foo.class_constant = “newvalue”
would be preferable, but how to do this without writing accessor
methods?

Thanks

2

On Fri, 14 Jul 2006, bwv549 wrote:

accessible (read/write) by outside users without having to write class
methods?

Thanks

class C
class << self
attr_accessor ‘class_constant’
end
end

-a

3

class C
class << self
attr_accessor ‘class_constant’
end
end

For an intermediate ruby user, could you explain what is happening in
the line: ‘class << self’

Thanks

4

Hi –

On Fri, 14 Jul 2006, bwv549 wrote:

accessible (read/write) by outside users without having to write class
methods?
One way or another, if you want a class variable set when you call the
method class_constant=, then that method has to set the variable.

See Ara’s answer; you’re almost certainly better off using a real
attr_accessor operation on the class object. (Yes, as I pointed out,
it doesn’t match the question exactly, but it’s an improvement :slight_smile:

David

5

Hi –

On Fri, 14 Jul 2006, [email protected] wrote:

Foo.class_constant = “newvalue”
would be preferable, but how to do this without writing accessor
methods?

Thanks

class C
class << self
attr_accessor ‘class_constant’
end
end

That doesn’t use class variables, though – which is an asset, as far
as I’m concerned :slight_smile: but doesn’t exactly match the question.

David

6

On Fri, 14 Jul 2006, bwv549 wrote:

class C
class << self
attr_accessor ‘class_constant’
end
end

For an intermediate ruby user, could you explain what is happening in
the line: ‘class << self’

search the archives - this comes up about once per week. for now,
suffice it
do say that

 class C
   class << self

     # everthing here is at class scope

     @a_class_instance_variable = 42

     def a_class_method() @a_class_instance_variable end

     alias_method 'one_class_method', 'to_another'

     extend ABunchOfClassMethods

   end
 end

regards.

-a

7

On 7/13/06, bwv549 [email protected] wrote:

accessible (read/write) by outside users without having to write class
methods?

Thanks

Here’s the Rails implementation if you just want to see one working
implementation. Note that it allows you to access the class attribute
from the class and from instances (which is similiar to static members
in Java, actually).

http://dev.rubyonrails.org/svn/rails/trunk/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/class/attribute_accessors.rb

  • Rob
8

Hi –

On Fri, 14 Jul 2006, bwv549 wrote:

class C
class << self
attr_accessor ‘class_constant’
end
end

For an intermediate ruby user, could you explain what is happening in
the line: ‘class << self’

The expression:

class << obj

puts you in a class definition block for the singleton class of obj.
The singleton class of obj is where obj’s singleton methods live –
that is, the methods that only obj can call.

obj = Object.new
def obj.x
“Singleton method on obj”
end

class << obj
puts instance_methods(false) # methods defined in this class only
end

Output: x

You can also define methods inside the class definition block, of
course:

class << obj
def y
“Another singleton method on obj”
end
end

David

9

On Fri, 14 Jul 2006 [email protected] wrote:

That doesn’t use class variables, though – which is an asset, as far
as I’m concerned :slight_smile: but doesn’t exactly match the question.

yeah - what he said :wink:

google the list for ‘class instance variable’ and ‘class << self’

-a

10

[email protected] wrote:

class C
class << self
attr_accessor ‘class_constant’
end
end

require ‘facet/functor’

module Kernel

# Provides access to an object's metaclass (ie. singleton)
# by-passsing access provisions. So for example:
#
#   class X
#     meta.attr_accesser :a
#   end
#
#   X.a = 1
#   X.a #=> 1

def meta
  @_meta_functor ||= Functor.new do |op,*args|
    (class << self; self; end).send(op,*args)
  end
end

end

T.