DESCRIPTION
The idea of Bezel is to overcome the limitations of using different versions of the same package in the same Ruby process.
USAGE
It works like this. Let's say I wrote a library called TomsLib. Now I want to use TomsLib in my new fancy app, FancyApp. In my FancyApp namespace I have to create a reference to TomsLib.
module FancyApp
TomsLib = lib('tomslib', '1.5')
...
Now I have access to TomsLib, but it is localized to my application. If Jane comes along and wants to use a different version of TomsLib but also utilizes my FancyApp, she could do so:
module JanesProgram
TomsLib = lib('tomslib', '1.0')
FancyApp = lib('fancyapp') # use newest available
...
How does this work? When you call lib(), Bezel looks for the package in the current Gem paths (and in the future, Roll ledger) then it reads the primary package file (eg. tomslib.rb) from the package and evals it into an anonymous module.
This has a some important effects on how you write your Ruby programs:
Any reference to core/standard libraries must be referenced via '::' prefix (eg. ::Enumerable).
Core extensions are not version isolated. So avoid them when possible, or depend on highly stable standardized bases such as Ruby Facets and ActiveSupport.
Since Bezel is a completely different alternative to Ruby's normal load system, your program will require Bezel be installed by your users.
Within Bezel dependent libraries #import must be used instead of #require or #load in order to keep the code within the current module.
Despite the minor limitations and necessary practices required for its use, Bezel is highly advantageous to the developers and end-users alike in that it puts an end to the dreaded Dependency Hell.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (c) 2009 Thomas Sawyer
Bezel is distributed under the terms of the Ruby License.
I like Bezel, cuz...
Bezel is Cool, Bezel is Hip, Bezel is Pimp!
‐ DJ Bezel
No unwanted behavior gets through!
‐ Tough Guy!
It allows me to have my way.
I like my way.
‐ Maria Chao
Where the UML Cats Drink!
