IRB

IRB stands for “interactive Ruby” and is a tool to interactively execute Ruby expressions read from the standard input.

The irb command from your shell will start the interpreter.

Usage¶ ↑

Use of irb is easy if you know Ruby.

When executing irb, prompts are displayed as follows. Then, enter the Ruby expression. An input is executed when it is syntactically complete.

$ irb
irb(main):001:0> 1+2
#=> 3
irb(main):002:0> class Foo
irb(main):003:1>  def foo
irb(main):004:2>    print 1
irb(main):005:2>  end
irb(main):006:1> end
#=> nil

The Readline extension module can be used with irb. Use of Readline is default if it's installed.

Command line options¶ ↑

Usage:  irb.rb [options] [programfile] [arguments]
  -f                Suppress read of ~/.irbrc
  -d                Set $DEBUG to true (same as `ruby -d')
  -r load-module    Same as `ruby -r'
  -I path           Specify $LOAD_PATH directory
  -U                Same as `ruby -U`
  -E enc            Same as `ruby -E`
  -w                Same as `ruby -w`
  -W[level=2]       Same as `ruby -W`
  --inspect         Use `inspect' for output (default except for bc mode)
  --noinspect       Don't use inspect for output
  --readline        Use Readline extension module
  --noreadline      Don't use Readline extension module
  --prompt prompt-mode
  --prompt-mode prompt-mode
                    Switch prompt mode. Pre-defined prompt modes are
                    `default', `simple', `xmp' and `inf-ruby'
  --inf-ruby-mode   Use prompt appropriate for inf-ruby-mode on emacs.
                    Suppresses --readline.
  --simple-prompt   Simple prompt mode
  --noprompt        No prompt mode
  --tracer          Display trace for each execution of commands.
  --back-trace-limit n
                    Display backtrace top n and tail n. The default
                    value is 16.
  --irb_debug n     Set internal debug level to n (not for popular use)
  -v, --version     Print the version of irb

Configuration¶ ↑

IRB reads from ~/.irbrc when it's invoked.

If ~/.irbrc doesn't exist, irb will try to read in the following order:

.irbrc
irb.rc
_irbrc
$irbrc

The following are alternatives to the command line options. To use them type as follows in an irb session:

IRB.conf[:IRB_NAME]="irb"
IRB.conf[:INSPECT_MODE]=nil
IRB.conf[:IRB_RC] = nil
IRB.conf[:BACK_TRACE_LIMIT]=16
IRB.conf[:USE_LOADER] = false
IRB.conf[:USE_READLINE] = nil
IRB.conf[:USE_TRACER] = false
IRB.conf[:IGNORE_SIGINT] = true
IRB.conf[:IGNORE_EOF] = false
IRB.conf[:PROMPT_MODE] = :DEFAULT
IRB.conf[:PROMPT] = {...}
IRB.conf[:DEBUG_LEVEL]=0

Auto indentation¶ ↑

To enable auto-indent mode in irb, add the following to your .irbrc:

IRB.conf[:AUTO_INDENT] = true

Autocompletion¶ ↑

To enable autocompletion for irb, add the following to your .irbrc:

require 'irb/completion'

History¶ ↑

By default, irb disables history and will not store any commands you used.

If you want to enable history, add the following to your .irbrc:

IRB.conf[:SAVE_HISTORY] = 1000

This will now store the last 1000 commands in ~/.irb_history.

See IRB::Context#save_history= for more information.

Customizing the IRB Prompt¶ ↑

In order to customize the prompt, you can change the following Hash:

IRB.conf[:PROMPT]

This example can be used in your .irbrc

IRB.conf[:PROMPT][:MY_PROMPT] = { # name of prompt mode
  :AUTO_INDENT => true,           # enables auto-indent mode
  :PROMPT_I =>  ">> ",            # simple prompt
  :PROMPT_S => nil,               # prompt for continuated strings
  :PROMPT_C => nil,               # prompt for continuated statement
  :RETURN => "    ==>%s\n"        # format to return value
}

IRB.conf[:PROMPT_MODE] = :MY_PROMPT

Or, invoke irb with the above prompt mode by:

irb --prompt my-prompt

Constants PROMPT_I, PROMPT_S and PROMPT_C specify the format. In the prompt specification, some special strings are available:

%N    # command name which is running
%m    # to_s of main object (self)
%M    # inspect of main object (self)
%l    # type of string(", ', /, ]), `]' is inner %w[...]
%NNi  # indent level. NN is digits and means as same as printf("%NNd").
      # It can be omitted
%NNn  # line number.
%%    # %

For instance, the default prompt mode is defined as follows:

IRB.conf[:PROMPT_MODE][:DEFAULT] = {
  :PROMPT_I => "%N(%m):%03n:%i> ",
  :PROMPT_S => "%N(%m):%03n:%i%l ",
  :PROMPT_C => "%N(%m):%03n:%i* ",
  :RETURN => "%s\n" # used to printf
}

irb comes with a number of available modes:

# :NULL:
#   :PROMPT_I:
#   :PROMPT_N:
#   :PROMPT_S:
#   :PROMPT_C:
#   :RETURN: |
#     %s
# :DEFAULT:
#   :PROMPT_I: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i> '
#   :PROMPT_N: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i> '
#   :PROMPT_S: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i%l '
#   :PROMPT_C: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i* '
#   :RETURN: |
#     => %s
# :CLASSIC:
#   :PROMPT_I: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i> '
#   :PROMPT_N: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i> '
#   :PROMPT_S: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i%l '
#   :PROMPT_C: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i* '
#   :RETURN: |
#     %s
# :SIMPLE:
#   :PROMPT_I: ! '>> '
#   :PROMPT_N: ! '>> '
#   :PROMPT_S:
#   :PROMPT_C: ! '?> '
#   :RETURN: |
#     => %s
# :INF_RUBY:
#   :PROMPT_I: ! '%N(%m):%03n:%i> '
#   :PROMPT_N:
#   :PROMPT_S:
#   :PROMPT_C:
#   :RETURN: |
#     %s
#   :AUTO_INDENT: true
# :XMP:
#   :PROMPT_I:
#   :PROMPT_N:
#   :PROMPT_S:
#   :PROMPT_C:
#   :RETURN: |2
#         ==>%s

Restrictions¶ ↑

Because irb evaluates input immediately after it is syntactically complete, the results may be slightly different than directly using Ruby.

IRB Sessions¶ ↑

IRB has a special feature, that allows you to manage many sessions at once.

You can create new sessions with Irb.irb, and get a list of current sessions with the jobs command in the prompt.

Commands¶ ↑

JobManager provides commands to handle the current sessions:

jobs    # List of current sessions
fg      # Switches to the session of the given number
kill    # Kills the session with the given number

The exit command, or ::irb_exit, will quit the current session and call any exit hooks with ::irb_at_exit.

A few commands for loading files within the session are also available:

source: Loads a given file in the current session and displays the source lines, see IRB::IrbLoader#source_file
irb_load: Loads the given file similarly to Kernel#load, see IRB::IrbLoader#irb_load
irb_require: Loads the given file similarly to Kernel#require

Configuration¶ ↑

The command line options, or ::conf, specify the default behavior of Irb.irb.

On the other hand, each conf in IRB is used to individually configure ::irb.

If a proc is set for ::conf, its will be invoked after execution of that proc with the context of the current session as its argument. Each session can be configured using this mechanism.

Session variables¶ ↑

There are a few variables in every Irb session that can come in handy:

_: The value command executed, as a local variable
__: The history of evaluated commands
__[line_no]: Returns the evaluation value at the given line number, line_no. If line_no is a negative, the return value line_no many lines before the most recent return value.

Example using IRB Sessions¶ ↑

# invoke a new session
irb(main):001:0> irb
# list open sessions
irb.1(main):001:0> jobs
  #0->irb on main (#<Thread:0x400fb7e4> : stop)
  #1->irb#1 on main (#<Thread:0x40125d64> : running)

# change the active session
irb.1(main):002:0> fg 0
# define class Foo in top-level session
irb(main):002:0> class Foo;end
# invoke a new session with the context of Foo
irb(main):003:0> irb Foo
# define Foo#foo
irb.2(Foo):001:0> def foo
irb.2(Foo):002:1>   print 1
irb.2(Foo):003:1> end

# change the active session
irb.2(Foo):004:0> fg 0
# list open sessions
irb(main):004:0> jobs
  #0->irb on main (#<Thread:0x400fb7e4> : running)
  #1->irb#1 on main (#<Thread:0x40125d64> : stop)
  #2->irb#2 on Foo (#<Thread:0x4011d54c> : stop)
# check if Foo#foo is available
irb(main):005:0> Foo.instance_methods #=> [:foo, ...]

# change the active sesssion
irb(main):006:0> fg 2
# define Foo#bar in the context of Foo
irb.2(Foo):005:0> def bar
irb.2(Foo):006:1>  print "bar"
irb.2(Foo):007:1> end
irb.2(Foo):010:0>  Foo.instance_methods #=> [:bar, :foo, ...]

# change the active session
irb.2(Foo):011:0> fg 0
irb(main):007:0> f = Foo.new  #=> #<Foo:0x4010af3c>
# invoke a new session with the context of f (instance of Foo)
irb(main):008:0> irb f
# list open sessions
irb.3(<Foo:0x4010af3c>):001:0> jobs
  #0->irb on main (#<Thread:0x400fb7e4> : stop)
  #1->irb#1 on main (#<Thread:0x40125d64> : stop)
  #2->irb#2 on Foo (#<Thread:0x4011d54c> : stop)
  #3->irb#3 on #<Foo:0x4010af3c> (#<Thread:0x4010a1e0> : running)
# evaluate f.foo
irb.3(<Foo:0x4010af3c>):002:0> foo #=> 1 => nil
# evaluate f.bar
irb.3(<Foo:0x4010af3c>):003:0> bar #=> bar => nil
# kill jobs 1, 2, and 3
irb.3(<Foo:0x4010af3c>):004:0> kill 1, 2, 3
# list open sessions, should only include main session
irb(main):009:0> jobs
  #0->irb on main (#<Thread:0x400fb7e4> : running)
# quit irb
irb(main):010:0> exit

DO NOT WRITE ANY MAGIC COMMENT HERE.

Public Class Methods

CurrentContext() click to toggle source

The current IRB::Context of the session, see ::conf

irb
irb(main):001:0> IRB.CurrentContext.irb_name = "foo"
foo(main):002:0> IRB.conf[:MAIN_CONTEXT].irb_name #=> "foo"

 
               # File irb.rb, line 366
def IRB.CurrentContext
  IRB.conf[:MAIN_CONTEXT]
end

JobManager() click to toggle source

The current JobManager in the session

 
               # File irb/ext/multi-irb.rb, line 175
def IRB.JobManager
  @JobManager
end

conf() click to toggle source

Displays current configuration.

Modifying the configuration is achieved by sending a message to ::conf.

See Configuration at IRB for more information.

 
               # File irb.rb, line 349
def IRB.conf
  @CONF
end

default_src_encoding() click to toggle source

 
               # File irb/src_encoding.rb, line 3
def self.default_src_encoding
  return __ENCODING__
end

initialize_tracer() click to toggle source

initialize tracing function

 
               # File irb/ext/tracer.rb, line 16
def IRB.initialize_tracer
  Tracer.verbose = false
  Tracer.add_filter {
    |event, file, line, id, binding, *rests|
    /^#{Regexp.quote(@CONF[:IRB_LIB_PATH])}/ !~ file and
      File::basename(file) != "irb.rb"
  }
end

irb(file = nil, *main) click to toggle source

Creates a new IRB session, see IRB::Irb.new.

The optional file argument is given to IRB::Context.new, along with the workspace created with the remaining arguments, see IRB::WorkSpace.new

 
               # File irb/ext/multi-irb.rb, line 188
def IRB.irb(file = nil, *main)
  workspace = WorkSpace.new(*main)
  parent_thread = Thread.current
  Thread.start do
    begin
      irb = Irb.new(workspace, file)
    rescue
      print "Subirb can't start with context(self): ", workspace.main.inspect, "\n"
      print "return to main irb\n"
      Thread.pass
      Thread.main.wakeup
      Thread.exit
    end
    @CONF[:IRB_RC].call(irb.context) if @CONF[:IRB_RC]
    @JobManager.insert(irb)
    @JobManager.current_job = irb
    begin
      system_exit = false
      catch(:IRB_EXIT) do
        irb.eval_input
      end
    rescue SystemExit
      system_exit = true
      raise
      #fail
    ensure
      unless system_exit
        @JobManager.delete(irb)
        if @JobManager.current_job == irb
          if parent_thread.alive?
            @JobManager.current_job = @JobManager.irb(parent_thread)
            parent_thread.run
          else
            @JobManager.current_job = @JobManager.main_irb
            @JobManager.main_thread.run
          end
        end
      end
    end
  end
  Thread.stop
  @JobManager.current_job = @JobManager.irb(Thread.current)
end

irb_abort(irb, exception = Abort) click to toggle source

Aborts then interrupts irb.

Will raise an Abort exception, or the given exception.

 
               # File irb.rb, line 398
def IRB.irb_abort(irb, exception = Abort)
  if defined? Thread
    irb.context.thread.raise exception, "abort then interrupt!"
  else
    raise exception, "abort then interrupt!"
  end
end

irb_at_exit() click to toggle source

Calls each event hook of ::conf when the current session quits.

 
               # File irb.rb, line 386
def IRB.irb_at_exit
  @CONF[:AT_EXIT].each{|hook| hook.call}
end

irb_exit(irb, ret) click to toggle source

Quits irb

 
               # File irb.rb, line 391
def IRB.irb_exit(irb, ret)
  throw :IRB_EXIT, ret
end

print_usage() click to toggle source

Outputs the irb help message, see Command line options at IRB.

 
               # File irb/help.rb, line 16
def IRB.print_usage
  lc = IRB.conf[:LC_MESSAGES]
  path = lc.find("irb/help-message")
  space_line = false
  IRB::MagicFile.open(path){|f|
    f.each_line do |l|
      if /^\s*$/ =~ l
        lc.puts l unless space_line
        space_line = true
        next
      end
      space_line = false

      l.sub!(/#.*$/, "")
      next if /^\s*$/ =~ l
      lc.puts l
    end
  }
end

start(ap_path = nil) click to toggle source

Initializes IRB and creates a new Irb.irb object at the TOPLEVEL_BINDING

 
               # File irb.rb, line 371
def IRB.start(ap_path = nil)
  STDOUT.sync = true
  $0 = File::basename(ap_path, ".rb") if ap_path

  IRB.setup(ap_path)

  if @CONF[:SCRIPT]
    irb = Irb.new(nil, @CONF[:SCRIPT])
  else
    irb = Irb.new
  end
  irb.run(@CONF)
end

version() click to toggle source

Returns the current version of IRB, including release version and last updated date.

 
               # File irb.rb, line 355
def IRB.version
  if v = @CONF[:VERSION] then return v end

  @CONF[:VERSION] = format("irb %s (%s)", @RELEASE_VERSION, @LAST_UPDATE_DATE)
end

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IRB

Usage¶ ↑

Command line options¶ ↑

Configuration¶ ↑

Auto indentation¶ ↑

Autocompletion¶ ↑

History¶ ↑

Customizing the IRB Prompt¶ ↑

Restrictions¶ ↑

IRB Sessions¶ ↑

Commands¶ ↑

Configuration¶ ↑

Session variables¶ ↑

Example using IRB Sessions¶ ↑

Public Class Methods