Cory O'Daniel – These are just words Software development, thoughts, and randomness

my_collection.methods_like(/^update/) #=> [ array of method names that start with update ]
user.methods_like("name") #=> [ :first_name, :last_name, :etc ]
Array.new.methods_like "sort" #=> ["sort", "sort!", "sort_by"]

class Object
  # pattern - string or pattern to match
  # access  - :public, :private, :protected, :singleton, :all
  def methods_like(pattern, access = :public, details = false)    
    master_method_list = case access
    when :public then self.methods
    when :private then self.private_methods
    when :protected then self.protected_methods 
    when :singleton then self.singleton_methods
    when :all
      (
        self.methods            +
        self.private_methods    +
        self.protected_methods  +
        self.singleton_methods
      ).uniq
    end
 
    matched_method_list = master_method_list.sort.select{ |m| m =~ ( pattern.is_a?(String) ? /#{pattern}/ : pattern ) }
 
    if !details
      matched_method_list
    else
      details_list = {}
 
      matched_method_list.each do |current_method|
        details_list[current_method] = method_details(current_method)
      end
 
      details_list
    end
  end
 
  # Returns details about method
  def method_details(current_method)
    current_method = current_method.to_s
    access_level = if self.methods.include?(current_method)
      :public
    elsif self.private_methods.include?(current_method)
      :private
    elsif self.protected_methods.include?(current_method)
      :protected
    elsif self.singleton_methods.include?(current_method)
      :singleton
    end
 
    {
      :owner    => self.method(current_method).owner,
      :arity    => self.method(current_method).arity,
      :receiver => self.method(current_method).receiver,
      :access   => access_level
    }
  end
end

variable.methods_like pattern, :private #=> Array of private methods with pattern
variable.methods_like pattern, :all, true #=> Hash of methods with additional details

Array.new.methods_like "sort", :all, true #=>
{
  "sort_by"=>{:owner=>Enumerable, :access=>:public, :receiver=>[], :arity=>0}, 
  "sort!"    =>{:owner=>Array, :access=>:public, :receiver=>[], :arity=>0}, 
  "sort"     =>{:owner=>Array, :access=>:public, :receiver=>[], :arity=>0}
}