Pattern Dispatch - Illustrates how to invoke methods based on a convention or pattern

pattern_dispatch.rb

# setup a contrived class to demonstrate pattern dispatch
class Person
  attr_accessor :first_name
  attr_accessor :last_name
  attr_accessor :pets_name
  attr_accessor :mothers_maiden_name

  def drag_queen_name
    "#{pets_name} #{mothers_maiden_name}"
  end
end

# construct an instance of the class
person = Person.new
person.first_name = "john"
person.last_name = "doe"
person.pets_name = "muffin"
person.mothers_maiden_name = "brown"

# use pattern dispatch to invoke all 'name' methods
person.public_methods.each do |method_name|
  puts "#{method_name} = #{person.send(method_name)}" if method_name =~ /_name$/
end

# -- output --
# first_name = john
# last_name = doe
# pets_name = muffin
# mothers_maiden_name = brown
# drag_queen_name = muffin brown