getting an instance of a CompiledMethod class

Question

As far as I understand CompiledMethod is a class holding the compiled form of a method. An instance of this class is created each time a method is compiled. This instance is saved in the class to which the method belongs.

My question is if I have a the name of the method, how can I get that instance that holds the compile form of a method in order to run that method with valueWithReceiver: ?

is it by using compiledMethodAt: selector ?

Answer 1

I think that we need more context here.

Because using the reflection mechanisms you can even do something like:

CompiledMethod allInstances select: [ :m | m selector = #asString ]

And this will give you all methods with a selector asString. But this action is very strange.

You can also use #detect: instead of #select: to find a single method.

If you need to evaluate all found methods, you can use:

CompiledMethod allInstances
    select: [ :m | m selector = #asString ]
    thenDo: [ :m | m valueWithReceiver: aReceiver ]

Also if you are interested in a methods for one hierarchy, you can do

YourClass withAllSubclassesDo: [ :class |
    class
        compiledMethodAt: #selector
        ifPresent: [ :method | method valueWithReceiver: aReceiver ]
        ifAbsent:  [ "do nothing" ]