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RubyConf 2016 - A Look at Hooks by Craig Buchek Ruby has several methods that are invoked implicitly under certain circumstances. These methods are called "hooks", and they provide points to extend behavior. While hooks might seem like "spooky action at a distance", they can be really powerful. In fact, hooks are one of the primary ways that Ruby provides for meta-programming. Unfortunately, Ruby's hooks are not all documented very well. We'll take a look at what hooks are available and how to use them. We'll also talk about when to avoid using hooks and provide some tips on how to troubleshoot when hooks are involved.
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In the presentation titled "A Look at Hooks," Craig Buchek explores the use of hooks in Ruby programming. He defines hooks as methods that are implicitly called by Ruby rather than called explicitly by the programmer, which can lead to unexpected behaviors and challenges in debugging. The talk emphasizes the significance of understanding hooks as a powerful aspect of Ruby's meta-programming capabilities. Buchek introduces several key hooks, along with their proper usage, advantages, and potential pitfalls. **Key points discussed include:** - **Definition of Hooks:** Hooks are methods implicitly called by Ruby, surprising many developers due to their hidden nature. They can be found in Ruby's documentation under various terms, including callbacks. - **Common Hooks:** The most frequently used hook is 'initialize', which gets called automatically when an object is created. This sets the foundation for using hooks effectively in class definitions. - **Meta-programming Hooks:** The hooks 'method_missing' and 'respond_to_missing' are explored for their roles in meta-programming, allowing the dynamic handling of undefined methods. The importance of using 'respond_to_missing' alongside 'method_missing' is highlighted to maintain clarity about an object's capabilities. - **Lifecycle Hooks:** Hooks related to the lifecycle of methods are discussed, including 'method_added', 'method_removed', and 'method_undefined'. These are less common but helpful for managing dynamic method definitions. - **Conversion Hooks:** Implicit conversion methods like 'to_str' and 'to_array' are illustrated, demonstrating how Ruby automatically converts types during operations. - **Coercion:** The concept of coercion in Ruby is explained, detailing how it allows different numerical types to interact, using the example of implementing a 'coerce' method for a custom class. - **At_exit Hook:** Buchek wraps up with the 'at_exit' hook, describing how it allows the registration of cleanup procedures to execute when a program finishes running. Buchek's presentation stresses the importance of understanding and utilizing hooks effectively while also advising caution and awareness of the complexities they can introduce. Overall, the session provides valuable insights for Ruby developers looking to leverage hooks for enhanced programming capabilities while also addressing best practices to avoid common pitfalls.
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