Ruby: How to call function before it is defined?

Question

In my seeds.rb file I would like to have the following structure:

# begin of variables initialization
groups = ...
# end of variables initialization
check_data
save_data_in_database

# functions go here
def check_data
  ...
end
def save_data_in_database
  ...
end

However, I got an error because I call check_data before it is defined. Well, I can put the definition at the top of the file, but then the file will be less readable for my opinion. Is there any other workaround ?

Answer 1

In Ruby, function definitions are statements that are executed exactly like other statement such as assignment, etc. That means that until the interpreter has hit your "def check_data" statement, check_data doesn't exist. So the functions have to be defined before they're used.

One way is to put the functions in a separate file "data_functions.rb" and require it at the top:

require 'data_functions'

If you really want them in the same file, you can take all your main logic and wrap it in its own function, then call it at the end:

def main
  groups =  ...
  check_data
  save_data_in_database
end

def check_data
  ...
end

def save_data_in_database
  ...
end

main # run main code

But note that Ruby is object oriented and at some point you'll probably end up wrapping your logic into objects rather than just writing lonely functions.