Ruby Module Help -- Looking in wrong directory?

Question

Hey everyone! I am having trouble with understanding modules -- I have two files, one named "modfile.rb" with the module, and one named "main.rb" that runs the code:

# modfile.rb  
module Module1
  def method1
    puts "SUCCESS!"
  end
end

# main.rb  
require 'modfile'
Module1.method1

Unfortunately, instead of SUCCESS! appearing on my screen, I get this:

<internal:lib/rubygems/custom_require>:29:in 'require': no such file to load -- modfile (LoadError)
  from <internal:lib/rubygems/custom_require>:29:in 'require'
  from main.rb:1:in '<main>'

I think (though I may be wrong) that Ruby is looking to the lib/.... file inside the Ruby directory on my computer, while modfile.rb is saved in the same directory as main.rb. How do I fix this problem (other than by moving the module's file?)

PS. one guide suggested I add the line "require 'rubygems'" but I already did and got the same error.

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:04

1

Check into the differences between require and require_relative in Ruby: require vs require_relative - best practice to workaround running in both Ruby <1.9.2 and >=1.9.2

In Ruby 1.9 the . directory was removed from the search path. To fix the problem this generated they added require_relative.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:04

Community

1
1

answered Jun 04 '11 at 21:08

the Tin Man

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And how would this code look if I wanted to use "include" instead of "require"? – Kvass Jun 04 '11 at 21:26
I didn't suggest using `include`. Use `require_relative`. – the Tin Man Jun 04 '11 at 21:27
also, is there a way to mark more than one answer to a question correct? Because I wanted to check your response as well – Kvass Jun 04 '11 at 21:43

Jits · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-04T21:10:12.753

If modfile.rb and main.rb are in the same directory, make sure that you aare calling main.rb from the directory it's in, ie:

ruby main.rb

As I believe that is the directory that the Ruby interpreter will be looking in for any require files.

Edit: as @the-tin-man points out, the behaviour has changed for Ruby 1.9.

To be completely on the safe side, you can do:

require File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), "modfile")

One other thing:

def method1

... should be:

def self.method1

... since you are calling the method as a class level method.

Ruby Module Help -- Looking in wrong directory?

2 Answers2