Current progress

koans/about_constants.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+require File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/neo')
+
+C = "top level"
+
+class AboutConstants < Neo::Koan
+
+  C = "nested"
+
+  def test_nested_constants_may_also_be_referenced_with_relative_paths
+    assert_equal __, C
+  end
+
+  def test_top_level_constants_are_referenced_by_double_colons
+    assert_equal __, ::C
+  end
+
+  def test_nested_constants_are_referenced_by_their_complete_path
+    assert_equal __, AboutConstants::C
+    assert_equal __, ::AboutConstants::C
+  end
+
+  # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  class Animal
+    LEGS = 4
+    def legs_in_animal
+      LEGS
+    end
+
+    class NestedAnimal
+      def legs_in_nested_animal
+        LEGS
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_nested_classes_inherit_constants_from_enclosing_classes
+    assert_equal __, Animal::NestedAnimal.new.legs_in_nested_animal
+  end
+
+  # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  class Reptile < Animal
+    def legs_in_reptile
+      LEGS
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_subclasses_inherit_constants_from_parent_classes
+    assert_equal __, Reptile.new.legs_in_reptile
+  end
+
+  # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  class MyAnimals
+    LEGS = 2
+
+    class Bird < Animal
+      def legs_in_bird
+        LEGS
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_who_wins_with_both_nested_and_inherited_constants
+    assert_equal __, MyAnimals::Bird.new.legs_in_bird
+  end
+
+  # QUESTION: Which has precedence: The constant in the lexical scope,
+  # or the constant from the inheritance hierarchy?
+
+  # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  class MyAnimals::Oyster < Animal
+    def legs_in_oyster
+      LEGS
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_who_wins_with_explicit_scoping_on_class_definition
+    assert_equal __, MyAnimals::Oyster.new.legs_in_oyster
+  end
+
+  # QUESTION: Now which has precedence: The constant in the lexical
+  # scope, or the constant from the inheritance hierarchy?  Why is it
+  # different than the previous answer?
+end