gistfile1.rb

class Base
	def config
		@config||=configuration
	end
	
	def configuration
		# no op
	end
end

class SuperComponent < Base # for example GirdPanel
	def config
		{:some_setting=>'some value'}
	end
end

class ChildComponent < SuperComponent
	def configuration
		super.merge({:some_toher_setting=>'some other value}) # <- because SuperComponent#configuration is a no-op (inherited from Base), it won't have :some_setting in it
	end
end