ruby equivalent of destructor

Question

I'm using RubyPython to import a Python module. I am doing RubyPython.start in the constructor (initialize), and I suppose I should symmetrically do RubyPython.stop in the destructor, but unfortunately it seems that there is no destructor in Ruby:

class QDSHiveHelper
    def initialize
        RubyPython.start
        qds = RubyPython.import('blah')
        ...
    end
    def do_something
        qds.some_function
        ...
    end 
    def finalize
        RubyPython.stop
    end
end

Could someone please explain how to accomplish this? ObjectSpace.define_finalize seems to be discouraged and has some gotchas (can't use closure etc). I could also just leave RubyPython dangling and not call stop on it, but I don't know what could be the consequences. What's the best way out?

The "best way out" is to not call `RubyPython.start` in your constructor, where it will be invoked once per instance of your class. Instead, call it once per instance of your program. — user229044, Jun 17 '13 at 13:33
meagar: if you could post an answer with this, I'll accept it. This is the indeed what works best for me. — nonbeing, Jun 20 '13 at 06:38
Your question has been marked as a duplicate, so no new answers can be posted. Don't worry about it :) — user229044, Jun 20 '13 at 13:52

sawa · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-17T11:37:23.410

4

There is a hook called ObjectSpace.define_finalizer that is called when an object is destroyed.

edited Jun 17 '13 at 11:37

answered Jun 17 '13 at 09:53

sawa

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You mean 'ObjectSpace.define_finalizer' right? – nonbeing Jun 17 '13 at 10:33
Could you point me to an example that uses 'ObjectSpace.define_finalizer'? – nonbeing Jun 17 '13 at 11:25
Right, that was my mistake. See the top of the page I linked. – sawa Jun 17 '13 at 11:37

ruby equivalent of destructor

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