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

class Object
  def rcall(*method_names)
    _result = self
 
    method_names.collect.each { |mname| 
      if _result.respond_to?(mname)
        _result = _result.send(mname)  
      else
        _result = nil
        break
      end
    }
 
    _result
  end
end

 
# In this example, if an of the messages return nil, i'll get a MethodMissing error and I'll be scorned.
my_object.first_message.second_message.the_message_whos_value_i_want
 
# The problem is, I dont care if its nil, I have a default, the method is still missing.
value = my_object.first_message.second_message.the_message_whos_value_i_want || "Im ok with this being nil"
 
# If chain_message encounters a nil, it just returns nil and you can use standard language logic to default that value
# You dont have to do a million if-checks.
value = my_object.rcall( :first_message, :second_message, :the_message_whos_value_i_want ) || "Im ok with this being nil"

# Some cool way of finding purchases, be it AR, Datamapper, or whatever, just get an object already
purchases = Purchase.all( arbitrary_finder_logic )
 
# I need to output the name of who added the product on some arbitrary report no one will read
# yeah, I know. My validators should have made sure the values were there, I'm just making this up.
purchases.each do |purchase|
  buyer = purchase.rcall(:purchaser, :name) || "John Doe"
  seller = purchase.rcall(:product, :listor, :name) || "Jack Sales"
 
  puts "Buyer: #{buyer}, Seller: #{seller}"
end