How do I use define_method to create class methods?

This is useful if you are trying to create class methods metaprogramatically:

def self.create_methods(method_name)
    # To create instance methods:
    define_method method_name do
      ...
    end

    # To create class methods that refer to the args on create_methods:
    ???
end

My answer to follow...


I think in Ruby 1.9 you can do this:

class A
  define_singleton_method :loudly do |message|
    puts message.upcase
  end
end

A.loudly "my message"

# >> MY MESSAGE

I prefer using send to call define_method, and I also like to create a metaclass method to access the metaclass:

class Object
  def metaclass
    class << self
      self
    end
  end
end

class MyClass
  # Defines MyClass.my_method
  self.metaclass.send(:define_method, :my_method) do
    ...
  end
end