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How to convert method to proc for &method usage in Ruby


For learning purposes, I'm exploring if I can convert these three method calls:

Foo::Bar.logger.debug(a)
Foo::Bar.logger.debug(b)
Foo::Bar.logger.debug(c)

into a single-line statement using the shorthand proc &method approach:

[a, b, c].each(&method(:'Foo::Bar.logger.debug'))

.debug does not respond to .to_proc so naturally:

NameError: undefined method `Foo::Bar.logger.debug' for class `#<Class:Foo>'

This does work; however, but isn't as succinct as the former:

logger = Proc.new { |x| Foo::Bar.logger.debug(x) }                                                                                                           
[a, b, c].each(&logger)

Is it possible for the former approach to work?


Solution

  • You're using the method method incorrectly. From the fine manual:

    method(sym) → method
    Looks up the named method as a receiver in obj, returning a Method object (or raising NameError).

    You'd usually say

    m = some_obj.method(:some_method_name)
    

    and then work with m. Saying:

    method(:Foo::Bar.logger.debug)
    

    should be giving you a TypeError because because :Foo is a symbol, not a class or module and trying to apply :: to a symbol makes no sense. I suspect that you're actually saying:

    method(':Foo::Bar.logger.debug')
    

    as that will produce the error you're seeing. Assuming that that's the case, then you're actually trying to get a reference to the method named ':Foo::Bar.logger.debug' in the object self.

    If you want a reference to the debug method in Foo::Bar.logger then you'd say:

    Foo::Bar.logger.method(:debug)
    

    Combining that your to_proc call (via &):

    [a, b, c].each(&Foo::Bar.logger.method(:debug))