[ruby-core:81319] [Ruby trunk Feature#13551] Add a method to alias class methods

[shevegen@gmail.com]

Issue #13551 has been updated by shevegen (Robert A. Heiler).


> Given that it's very easy (as shown by Matthew) to create such a method, do you think it's necessary that this
> be implemented by Ruby itself? You haven't yet answered the question about frequency of use or use cases.

Well I do not have a statistical dataset myself, but I use it all the time.

The thing is that for me it is very natural to use "alias".

    def foo; puts 'hi from foo()'; end

    alias bar foo

I love it. I love aliases. They make me happy. :)

I use aliases mostly because I have a bad memory. And also because
I want to remain flexible. Some time ago I started to adopt a more
"logical" scheme with my classes, when it may make sense. For example,
most of my classes, if necessary, have a "reset" method. Often I also
have a "menu" method, which I consider as the interface that can 
parse the commandline (or optionally any other input that is sent
to it).

And so on and so forth.

So in this context, I totally agree with Joshua Stowers.

I think that ruby itself should not care too much if a user
wants to use an alias on the class/module level instance
or within the context of self with regular instance methods
of the class.

So here, I agree with Joshua.

The awkward thing, though, is that I actually dislike the syntax
proposal:

  alias_class_method :new_name, :old_name

The reason is, and this may be trivial, is that I really really
hate the ',' character there. The symbols are ok although it's
better to avoid them.

I also understand that alias_method is not the same as alias,
but alias is so cute and short, it is just built to be loved!

Now you may wonder, how do I alias class methods then?

I use a VERY clumsy way. I do not recommend anyone to use it
and I am sure there are better ways but here goes:

    self.instance_eval { alias stop_codons stop_codons? } 

I dislike the self.instance_eval part because it is so long
and verbose - but I love the alias part within the { } because
to my eyes, it is neat and cuddly.

I can't say whether I would use alias_class_method - the name
is not soooo bad (though, what if we have a module Foo; end
method? Do we call it alias_module_method then?), but I am
not sure about the syntax.

BUT I also dislike typing the:

    self.instance_eval { }

part altogether, so in this context, I agree with Joshua Stowers.

(I also understand that one should not use too many aliases but
I love aliases. The main method is usually the one I use the
most, and then I may use some aliases, some for backwards
compatbility and sometimes I remove them too at a later point
so it just provides some more flexibility "as you go".)

Anything that would be as neat or almost as short as:

"alias foo bar"

but for class-methods / module-methods would be great!

----------------------------------------
Feature #13551: Add a method to alias class methods
https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/13551#change-65006

* Author: JustJosh (Joshua Stowers)
* Status: Feedback
* Priority: Normal
* Assignee: 
* Target version: 
----------------------------------------
There doesn't seem to be an intuitive way to alias class methods.

Perhaps we can add a method such as 

~~~ ruby
alias_class_method :new_name, :old_name
~~~



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