Should I use alias or alias_method?

Question

I found a blog post on alias vs. alias_method. As shown in the example given in that blog post, I simply want to alias a method to another within t

Answer 1

I think there is an unwritten rule (something like a convention) that says to use 'alias' just for registering a method-name alias, means if you like to give the user of your code one method with more than one name:

class Engine
  def start
    #code goes here
  end
  alias run start
end

If you need to extend your code, use the ruby meta alternative.

class Engine
  def start
    puts "start me"
  end
end

Engine.new.start() # => start me

Engine.class_eval do
  unless method_defined?(:run)
    alias_method :run, :start
    define_method(:start) do
      puts "'before' extension"
      run()
      puts "'after' extension"
    end
  end
end

Engine.new.start
# => 'before' extension
# => start me
# => 'after' extension

Engine.new.run # => start me