# Invoke irb during execution of code

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [June 3, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423 "2008-06-03T19:06:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423/1 "2008-06-03T19:06:16Z")

</div>

how do i invoke the irb during the execution of my code.  
for eg  
require “watir”  
ie = Watir::IE.start( url)  
invoke irb so that i can inspect the ie and use the ie object  
interactively.

Appreciate any help.  
seede

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423/2 "2008-06-03T19:55:18Z")

</div>

ruby-breakpoint, while currently unmaintained, does (did?) just that.

[http://rubyforge.org/projects/ruby-breakpoint](http://rubyforge.org/projects/ruby-breakpoint)

martin

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423/3 "2008-06-03T23:47:27Z")

</div>

Junkone wrote:

> how do i invoke the irb during the execution of my code.

IRB is very useful for that. One way to do it:

[http://blade.nagaokaut.ac.jp/cgi-bin/scat.rb/ruby/ruby-talk/244139](http://blade.nagaokaut.ac.jp/cgi-bin/scat.rb/ruby/ruby-talk/244139)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423/4 "2008-06-04T21:35:52Z")

</div>

On Jun 3, 5:45 pm, Joel VanderWerf [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Junkone wrote:
> 
> > how do i invoke the irb during the execution of my code.
> 
> IRB is very useful for that. One way to do it:
> 
> [http://blade.nagaokaut.ac.jp/cgi-bin/scat.rb/ruby/ruby-talk/244139](http://blade.nagaokaut.ac.jp/cgi-bin/scat.rb/ruby/ruby-talk/244139)
> 
> –  
> vjoel : Joel VanderWerf : path berkeley edu : 510 665 3407

thanks for trying to help. But i am lost with this code. do i have to  
call this code from my ruby code or should i call my ruby code from  
this code. any additional details would be very very useful.  
Regards  
Seede

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423/5 "2008-06-04T22:40:10Z")

</div>

First, run “gem install -r ruby-debug”

I have the following programmed into a hotkey in my text editor:

require ‘ruby-debug’  
Debugger.start  
debugger

…so whenever I need a breakpoint I hit the key and rerun my program.

Les

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423/6 "2008-06-05T01:11:46Z")

</div>

Junkone wrote:

> thanks for trying to help. But i am lost with this code. do i have to  
> call this code from my ruby code or should i call my ruby code from  
> this code. any additional details would be very very useful.

Copy the module…end and class…end part into your code. Then look at  
the stuff at the bottom. The simplest use is:

IRB.start\_session(x)

where x is the object that will be “self” in the irb session. If you  
want the user to be able to look at some local variables as well, use  
the form with “binding” as the first argument.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423/7 "2008-06-05T01:27:01Z")

</div>

What I say… is why don´t any of you take my job offer seriously…  
☹ sniff.

LAET. Yazmín M. Cárdenas Rubalcaba

Technical Recruiter

Phone 01 800 087 47 87 Ext 257

Local phone 1368 1745 Ext 257

Av. Mariano Otero 3225 Col. Verde Valle

C.P. 44540 Guadalajara, Jal. México

[www.pounceconsulting.com](http://www.pounceconsulting.com)

e-mail. removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Junkone](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Junkone)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/invoke-irb-during-execution-of-code/139423/8 "2008-06-05T01:45:45Z")

</div>

Have you seen/tried Live\_Console?  
[http://rubyforge.org/frs/?group\_id=4682&release\_id=15655](http://rubyforge.org/frs/?group_id=4682&release_id=15655)  
I’m trying it out on a project.  
I’m having some issues, but that’s par 4 me.

aTb  
MarkT