AR enums

quickfind.rb

module Quickfind
  module ClassMethods
    
    def quick_finder(field)
      metaclass = class << self; self; end
      klass = self
      
      class_eval do
        @@quickfinder = field
      end

      metaclass.class_eval do
        klass.all.each do |record|
          value = record.send(field)
          define_method value do
            klass.where(field => value).first
          end
        end
      end
    end
    
    def [](k)
      where(@@quickfinder => k).first
    end

    alias_method :%, :[]
    
  end
end

# class User; quickfinder :username; end
# User[ username ] => finds a user by username

# class Unit; quickfinder :abbr; end
# Unit.CM => finds a unit by abbr

ActiveRecord::Base.extend Quickfind::ClassMethods