ActiveRecord: override attribute writers by using a class method - activerecord

I don't know how to correctly phrase the title, I think the best way to explain this issue is just with code samples.
My goal
I want to define a meta method like this (in Rails 5):
class Post < ApplicationRecord
override_this_attribute_writer :some_attribute
end
The override_this_attribute_writer follows a common pattern, it overrides the original writer by doing some filtering on top of it. I find this way of overriding very convenient and clear.
First approach
module MyCommonModule
extend ActiveSupport::Concern
module ClassMethods
def override_this_attribute_writer(attribute_name)
alias_method :"#{attribute_name}_old=", :"#{attribute_name}="
define_method :"#{attribute_name}=" do |a_value|
# Do my stuff
send(:"#{attribute_name}_old=", a_value)
end
end
end
When doing this, I was getting an exception at the call of alias_method, because, apparently, the method I was trying to copy didn't exist (yet).
Second approach
module MyCommonModule
extend ActiveSupport::Concern
module ClassMethods
def override_this_attribute_writer(attribute_name)
define_method :"#{attribute_name}=" do |a_value|
# Do my stuff
send(:write_attribute, attribute_name, a_value)
end
end
end
I was expecting this not to work: if, when running the meta method, ActiveRecord hasn't created the attribute writer yet, this means that it will do it later and override the method that I just defined.
But surprisingly it worked! So I put my hands inside ActiveRecord (5.1.5) to find out more.
Dig into ActiveRecord 5.1.5
I wanted to ensure that what I did was safe and it wasn't just working by accident: I looked into the definition of method writer, and put binding.pry around the method.
This is the result of the experiment:
For attributes that I did not override,
This line is called
Then the method is defined inside this module eval call
Finally, the newly created writer method is correctly called when performing object.attribute=
For attributes that I DID override,
My own method is defined before anything else (when the ActiveRecord writers aren't there yet
Then ActiveRecord calls the same line that handles writer creation, as in the previous example
The method gets (apparently) correctly created by ActiveRecord, since it passes again by this point
But now, surprisingly, when calling object.attribute= my own method is still called in place of the ActiveRecord one
So, this is what I don't understand: if ActiveRecord seems to be overriding my method but it doesn't, what prevents it from doing it?
My questions
What in the end I need to know is whether the fix I have done is actually a good practice (and robust) or it's at risk and it might break if in the future we do upgrades.
If you think that my fix is dangerous, would you be able to suggest a different way to achieve the same goal?

Calling super is even more idiomatic:
module MyCommonModule
extend ActiveSupport::Concern
module ClassMethods
def override_this_attribute_writer(attribute_name)
define_method :"#{attribute_name}=" do |value|
# do some stuff
super value
end
end
end
end

Related

Understanding Ruby define_method with initialize

So, I'm currently learning about metaprogramming in Ruby and I want to fully understand what is happening behind the scenes.
I followed a tutorial where I included some of the methods in my own small project, an importer for CSV files and I have difficulties to wrap my hand around one of the methods used.
I know that the define_method method in Ruby exists to create methods "on the fly", which is great. Now, in the tutorial the method initialize to instantiate an object from a class is defined with this method, so basically it looks like this:
class Foo
def self.define_initialize(attributes)
define_method(:initialize) do |*args|
attributes.zip(args) do |attribute, value|
instance_variable_set("##{attribute}", value)
end
end
end
end
Next, in an initializer of the other class first this method is called with Foo.define_initialize(attributes), where attributes are the header row from the CSV file like ["attr_1", "attr_2", ...], so the *args are not provided yet.
Then in the next step a loop loops over the the data:
#foos = data[1..-1].map do |d|
Foo.new(*d)
end
So here the *d get passed as the *args to the initialize method respectively to the block.
So, is it right that when Foo.define_initialize gets called, the method is just "built" for later calls to the class?
So I theoretically get a class which now has this method like:
def initialize(*args)
... do stuff
end
Because otherwise, it had to throw an exception like "missing arguments" or something - so, in other words, it just defines the method like the name implies.
I hope that I made my question clear enough, cause as a Rails developer coming from the "Rails magic" I would really like to understand what is happening behind the scenes in some cases :).
Thanks for any helpful reply!
Short answer, yes, long answer:
First, let's start explaining in a really (REALLY) simple way, how metaprogramming works on Ruby. In Ruby, the definition of anything is never close, that means that you can add, update, or delete the behavior of anything (really, almost anything) at any moment. So, if you want to add a method to Object class, you are allowed, same for delete or update.
In your example, you are doing nothing more than update or create the initialize method of a given class. Note that initialize is not mandatory, because ruby builds a default "blank" one for you if you didn't create one. You may think, "what happens if the initialize method already exist?" and the answer is "nothing". I mean, ruby is going to rewrite the initialize method again, and new Foo.new calls are going to call the new initialize.

RSpec test method is called on `main` object

Sometimes we call methods on the ruby main objects. For example we call create for FactoryBot and we call _() for I18n.
What's a proper way to test these top level methods got called in RSpec?
For example, I want to test N_ is called, but it would not work because the self in Rspec and self in the file are different.
# spec
describe 'unfound_translations' do
it 'includes dynamic translations' do
expect(self).to receive(:N_)
load '/path/to/unfound_translations.rb')
end
end
# unfound_translations.rb
N_('foo')
However this does not pass.
Ok, I get your problem now. Your main issue is that self in it block is different that self inside unfound_translations.rb. So you're setting expectations on one object and method N_ is called on something completely different.
(Edit: I just realized, when reading the subject of this question again, that you already was aware of it. Sorry for stating the obvious... leaving it so it may be useful to others)
I managed to have a hacky way that is working, here it is:
# missing_translations.rb
N_('foo')
and the spec (I defined a simple module for tests inside it for simplicity):
module N
def N_(what)
puts what
end
end
RSpec.describe 'foo' do
let(:klass) do
Class.new do
extend N
end
end
it do
expect(klass).to receive(:N_)
klass.class_eval do
eval(File.read('missing_translations.rb'))
end
end
end
What it does it's creating an anonymous class that. And evaluating contents of missing_translations.rb inside means that klass is the thing that receives N_ method. So you can set expectations there.
I'm pretty sure you can replace extend N module with whatever module is giving you N_ method and this should work.
It's hacky, but not much effort so maybe good enough until more elegant solution is provided.

How can I mock super in ruby using rspec?

I am extending an existing library by creating a child class which extends to the library class.
In the child class, I was able to test most of functionality in initialize method, but was not able to mock super call. The child class looks like something like below.
class Child < SomeLibrary
def initialize(arg)
validate_arg(arg)
do_something
super(arg)
end
def validate_arg(arg)
# do the validation
end
def do_something
#setup = true
end
end
How can I write rspec test (with mocha) such that I can mock super call? Note that I am testing functionality of initialize method in the Child class. Do I have to create separate code path which does not call super when it is provided with extra argument?
You can't mock super, and you shouldn't. When you mock something, you are verifying that a particular message is received, and super is not a message -- it's a keyword.
Instead, figure out what behavior of this class will change if the super call is missing, and write an example that exercises and verifies that behavior.
As #myron suggested you probably want to test the behavior happening in super.
But if you really want to do this, you could do:
expect_any_instance_of(A).to receive(:instance_method).and_call_original
Assuming
class B < A
def instance_method
super
end
end
class A
def instance_method
#
end
end
Disclaimer expect_any_instance_of are a mark of weak test (see):
This feature is sometimes useful when working with legacy code, though
in general we discourage its use for a number of reasons:
The rspec-mocks API is designed for individual object instances, but
this feature operates on entire classes of objects. As a result there
are some semantically confusing edge cases. For example, in
expect_any_instance_of(Widget).to receive(:name).twice it isn't clear
whether a specific instance is expected to receive name twice, or if
two receives total are expected. (It's the former.)
Using this feature is often a design smell. It may be that your test is trying to do too much or that the object under test is too
complex.
It is the most complicated feature of rspec-mocks, and has historically received the most bug reports. (None of the core team
actively use it, which doesn't help.)
A good way to test this is to set an expectation of some action taken by the superclass - example :
class Some::Thing < Some
def instance_method
super
end
end
and the super class:
class Some
def instance_method
another_method
end
def self.another_method # not private!
'does a thing'
end
end
now test :
describe '#instance_method' do
it 'appropriately triggers the super class method' do
sawm = Some::Thing.new
expect(sawm).to receive(:another_method)
sawm.instance_method
end
end
All This Determines Is That Super Was Called On the Superclass
This pattern's usefulness is dependent on how you structure your tests/what expectations you have of the child/derivative class' mutation by way of the super method being applied.
Also - pay close attention to class and instance methods, you will need to adjust allows and expects accordingly
YMMV
A bit late to this party, but what you can also do is forego using the super keyword and instead do
class Parent
def m(*args)
end
end
class Child < Parent
alias super_m m
def m(*args)
super_m(*args)
end
end
That way your super method is accessible like any other method and can e.g. be stubbed like any other method. The main downside is that you have to explicitly pass arguments to the call to the super method.

Ruby: Raise error in Module if class method not found

I would like to put some code in module that throws an error if certain method is not defined.
This module relies on the external definition of this method, since this method's implementation is different for all classes. This code would help developers know early that they forgot to implement the method rather than when they tried to use features of the module.
module MyModule
def self.included(klass)
raise "MyModule: please `def my_method` on #{klass}" unless klass.respond_to?(:my_method)
end
end
I can easily raise an error in a module's included definition if a method is not defined, however since most modules are included at the top of a file, it's likely that my required method is defined in the class, but not before my module is included.
class MyClass
include MyModule
def self.my_method
# ...
end
end
This would still raise an error :(
Is it possible to raise an error only if the method truly is not defined in the class definition? Almost need a class.onload callback of sorts. If not, any other ideas for how to mitigate the possibilities that a programmer might include our module without defining this needed method?
Sounds like you want to make use of method_missing and define_method.
If you do use method_missing don't forget to:
call super for unhandled cases.
also implement a respond_to? method
look at this question, plus this and that.
Update:
It sounds the goal is to do static method checking like Java or c++ does. This is not really meaningful in ruby :-(
Since in ruby:
Each instance of an object has its own eigenclass. A given object may have the necessary methods mixed in at runtime. So just because Foo does not have a method at class load time is meaningless.
Frameworks like RoR hooks method_missing and dynamically create methods needed for the database query methods, so the method may exist (or not) when it is needed.
With regards to "class on load": A class definition is really executed. Try this:
class Foo
p "Hi"
end
You will see "Hi" the first and only the first time Foo is used. This is how things like devise hook into do their magic.
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
# **CALL 'devise' method**
devise :database_authenticatable, :registerable, :recoverable, :rememberable, :trackable, :validatable
# **CALL attr_accessible method**
attr_accessible :email, :password, :password_confirmation
end
So maybe by private convention have developers add a check_class method call to the bottom of the classes in question?
I understand the intent but it seems like fighting the way ruby is designed to work.
As a mostly Java person I appreciate the frustration. Let me guess: repeated cases of code getting pushed to production that had missing methods? :-P
Update2:
wrt onload In ruby barring use of frozen a class get new methods defined all the time. ( Or an instance can get new methods defined just for that instance. ) so checking for a method's nonexistence is only a snapshot check and not as definitive a check as a static language brings to the table. This is ruby's very own Halting problem
How about declaring a method with that name, which just raises an error, to make sure the user redefines the method?
module MyModule
def my_method
raise "Please implement me"
end
end
class MyClass
include MyModule
def my_method
# do something
end
end
Assuming your program requires all files when started and does not use any autoload and the like, you could use something like the following right after everything is required, but before the program actually starts:
classes_to_check = Object.constants.find_all do |const|
klass = Object.const_get(c)
klass.ancestors.include?(MyModule) if klass.kind_of?(Module)
end
classes_to_check.each do |klass|
raise "MyModule: please `def my_method` on #{klass}" \
unless klass.respond_to?(:my_method)
end
However, I personally always use Dogbert's solution.

Override same Class method in Ruby with Multiple Modules, with need to call super. Do I use Method Alias, or some other clever trick?

Here's the situation:
I have a User model, and two modules for authentication: Oauth and Openid. Both of them override ActiveRecord#save, and have a fair share of implementation logic.
Given that I can tell when the user is trying to login via Oauth vs. Openid, but that both of them have overridden save, how do "finally" override save such that I can conditionally call one of the modules' implementations of it?
Here is the base structure of what I'm describing:
module UsesOauth
def self.included(base)
base.class_eval do
def save
puts "Saving with Oauth!"
end
def save_with_oauth
save
end
end
end
end
module UsesOpenid
def self.included(base)
base.class_eval do
def save
puts "Saving with OpenID!"
end
def save_with_openid
save
end
end
end
end
module Sequencer
def save
if using_oauth?
save_with_oauth
elsif using_openid?
save_with_openid
else
super
end
end
end
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
include UsesOauth
include UsesOpenid
include Sequencer
end
I was thinking about using alias_method like so, but that got too complicated, because I might have 1 or 2 more similar modules. I also tried using those save_with_oauth methods (shown above), which almost works. The only thing that's missing is that I also need to call ActiveRecord::Base#save (the super method), so something like this:
def save_with_oauth
# do this and that
super.save
# the rest
end
But I'm not allowed to do that in ruby.
Any ideas for a clever solution to this?
Is that what alias_method_chain would do? I've avoided that because people seemed to say it was a bad idea.
(Finding things as I go):
Alias Method Chain the Ruby Way
Yes alias method chain would help you in this situation.
But consider using delegate pattern. Original save method would trigger a callback on special delegate object (which can be as well nil) and it would do whatever needs to be done when saving user.
Also there is simliar pattern supported directly by actve record called Observer, try to read somethng about it maybe that's a good solution too.
I'm not saying this chaining methods is wrong, but there are cleaner ways to achieve what you want.

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