Is there a way I can return a functions definition in Elixir

Question

Give I have a module:

defmodule Foo do
  def bar(baz) do
    IO.puts baz
  end
end

Is there some way that I can return:

def bar(baz) do
  IO.puts baz
end

I've worked out that I can load the whole definition of module with:

Foo.__info__(:compile) |> List.last |> elem(1) |> File.read |> elem(1)

But ideally, I'd love to be about to do something like

Foo.bar/1.__definition__
#=> def bar(baz) do\n  IO.puts baz\nend\d

I think you need to dig into erlang - see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5250587/erlang-how-to-convert-a-fun-object-to-a-string — GavinBrelstaff, Feb 04 '16 at 17:23
So you're asking if it's possible to decompile a function definition? I think the answer is no. — Onorio Catenacci, Feb 05 '16 at 14:41
I'm still holding out hope, failing that, I might have to look at writing my own. — Hackling, Feb 07 '16 at 06:21

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 31 '16 at 06:24

3

Elixir is a compiled language. At runtime the source code is no longer there, it has been complied away to BEAM byte code. There is no source-level representation of the function at runtime for your code to inspect or retrieve.

answered Mar 31 '16 at 06:24

Scott Thompson

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Is there a way I can return a functions definition in Elixir

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