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Feature #6710

Updated by ko1 (Koichi Sasada) over 11 years ago

=begin 

 = Abstract 

 New special binding specifier :isolated for the 2nd argument of eval() method. 
 eval(src, :isolated) evaluates `src' program on the same environment as `require' and 'load'. 
 It is a bit different from `TOPLEVEL_BINDING'. 

 = Background 

 We have TOPLEVEL_BINDING to evaluate source code on the main environment (self is `main', and so on). 
 However, TOPLEVEL_BINDING contains local variables which are evaluated in toplevel. 

 For example: 

   x = 10 
   eval('a=1', TOPLEVEL_BINDING) 
   eval('b=2', TOPLEVEL_BINDING) 
   eval('c=3', TOPLEVEL_BINDING) 
   eval('p (a+b+c) * x', TOPLEVEL_BINDING) #=> 60 

 To simulate "require()" or "load()" method, the eval() method with TOPLEVEL_BINDING is not enough (require() and load() methods don't evaluate scripts within `main' environment.    Similar to `main' environment (self == main), but local variables aren't taken take over). 

 BTW, eval() receive special binding specifier `nil' (which means current binding). 

 = Proposal 

 Introduce the new special binding specifier :isolated for the 2nd argument of eval() method. 

 eval(src, :isolated) evaluates `src' program on the new binding, which is same environment as `require' and 'load'. 


 == Usecase 

 Users can define toplevel methods, modules, classes on the any places. 

   def m 
     # define toplevel method foo() 
     eval('def foo(); end', :isolated) 
  
     # define ::Bar class 
     eval('class Bar; end', :isolated) 
   end 

 Users can make your own alternative require() method. 

   def my_require(feature) 
     ... # set src from feature 
     eval(src, :isolated) 
     ... 
   end 

 == Consideration 

 * :isolated is good name or not? 

 I'm not sure the `isolated' is good name or not. 

 * ISOLATED_BINDING = :isolated 

 If make default constants ::ISOLATED_BINDING as a :isolated, then we can use it as `eval(src, ISOLATED_BINDING)', similar manner with TOPLEVEL_BINDING. 

 = Acknowledgment 

 Usa-san proposed the name `isolated'.    My first idea of this name is `empty'. 

 =end 

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