Project: Ruby-style-guide

Publisher: Womply

metaprogramming

Avoid needless metaprogramming.
Do not mess around in core classes when writing libraries.
(Do not monkey-patch them.)
The block form of class_eval is preferable to the string-interpolated form.
- when you use the string-interpolated form, always supply __FILE__ and __LINE__, so that your backtraces make sense:
```
class_eval 'def use_relative_model_naming?; true; end', __FILE__, __LINE__
```
- define_method is preferable to class_eval{ def ... }

When using class_eval (or other eval) with string interpolation, add a comment block
showing its appearance if interpolated (a practice used in Rails code):

# from activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/string/output_safety.rb
UNSAFE_STRING_METHODS.each do |unsafe_method|
  if 'String'.respond_to?(unsafe_method)
    class_eval <<-EOT, __FILE__, __LINE__ + 1
      def #{unsafe_method}(*args, &block)       # def capitalize(*args, &block)
        to_str.#{unsafe_method}(*args, &block)  #   to_str.capitalize(*args, &block)
      end                                       # end

      def #{unsafe_method}!(*args)              # def capitalize!(*args)
        @dirty = true                           #   @dirty = true
        super                                   #   super
      end                                       # end
    EOT
  end
end

Avoid using method_missing for metaprogramming because backtraces become messy,
the behavior is not listed in #methods, and misspelled method calls might silently
work, e.g. nukes.launch_state = false. Consider using delegation, proxy, or
define_method instead. If you must use method_missing:
- Be sure to also define respond_to_missing?
- Only catch methods with a well-defined prefix, such as find_by_* -- make your code as assertive as possible.
- Call super at the end of your statement
- Delegate to assertive, non-magical methods:
```
# bad
def method_missing?(meth, *args, &block)
  if /^find_by_(?<prop>.*)/ =~ meth
    # ... lots of code to do a find_by
  else
    super
  end
end

# good
def method_missing?(meth, *args, &block)
  if /^find_by_(?<prop>.*)/ =~ meth
    find_by(prop, *args, &block)
  else
    super
  end
end

# best of all, though, would to define_method as each findable attribute is declared
```

Last published almost 7 years ago by David Kariuki.

metaprogramming

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