Patch Ruby's Hash class to simplify access and improve error messages. dig is useful for rummaging through deeply nested hashes

dig.rb

# patch Ruby's Hash class to simplify access and improve error messages
# useful for digging through deeply nested hashes
class Hash
  def dig(*keys)
    #puts "dig: #{keys.inspect} #{self.inspect}"
    if keys.empty?
      return self
    else
      begin
        v = self.fetch(keys.first)
        return v if(keys.size.eql?(1))
        v.dig(*keys.drop(1))
      rescue IndexError => e
        message = "IndexError: no such key: #{keys.first.inspect} in #{self.inspect}"
        Airbrake.notify(e, {error_message: message})
        return nil
      end
    end
  end
end

## example usage:
##   a = {:a => {:b => {:c => 3}}}
##   puts a.dig(:a,:b,:c)