Ruby equivalent to Python main

Question

If in a ruby file I define a function like so:

def tell_the_truth()
    puts "truth"
end

is there an equivalent to python's main?

if __name__ == "__main__":
    tell_the_truth()

Is it to simply call the function inside the file?

tell_the_truth

The reason for the `if` in Python is to prevent the function from being called if the file is included into another one, which your Ruby example doesn't do (as far as I know) — Michael Mrozek, Jul 19 '10 at 21:44
Thanks Michael. I understand the why behind the if in python. To compare, I have tried putting tell_the_truth() just under the function definition and then importing that file from another ruby file using "require". That prints "truth". So the top level statement seem to be run when a file is imported. — Rodrigue, Jul 20 '10 at 08:10

score 27 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 19 '10 at 21:46

27

I believe this will work:

if __FILE__ == $0
    tell_the_truth()
end

answered Jul 19 '10 at 21:46

robert

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 04 '16 at 18:26

2

if __FILE__ == $PROGRAM_NAME
    tell_the_truth()
end

answered Feb 04 '16 at 18:26

Uladzimir

Ruby equivalent to Python __main__