[SOLVED] Where should I define method_missing in a Cucumber Ruby framework?

Where should I define method_missing in a Cucumber Ruby framework?

I have a Ruby-Cucumber framework. I need to use the method method_missing to avoid writing a few repetitive functions. Where should I place my method_missing? In any .rb file under the support folder? Or should it go in some different specific file?

Solution

Define method_missing like you would any Cucumber helper method, in an .rb file in the support directory and in a module which you then pass to the Cucumber World:

module MethodMissing
  def method_missing(method)
    puts "You said #{method}"
  end
end
World MethodMissing

You can then call missing methods in step definitions.

Like any Cucumber helper method, method_missing should be defined only on the Cucumber World. If you defined it at the top level of the support file, it would be defined on the Ruby top-level object and available everywhere, which is unparsimonious and might break other code.

I deliberately didn't defer to super, since the World doesn't define method_missing, or define respond_to_missing?, since I didn't have any plans to call method(:foo) on the World, but you can do those things if you prefer to always do them when you define method_missing.