Is there a 'variable_get' method? If not, how can I create my own?
ruby
Solution
In Ruby 2.1 and later, you can use `Binding#local_variable_get`.
In prior versions of Ruby, you have to use `eval`. If you want to do some sanity-checking before evaluating a supposed variable name, you can check whether the named variable is in `local_variables`.
Problem
courtesy of irb: ``` 2.0.0-p0 :006 > @instance_variable = "from an instance variable" => "from an instance variable" 2.0.0-p0 :007 > variable = "from a variable" => "from a variable" 2.0.0-p0 :008 > instance_variable_get(:@instance_variable) => "from an instance variable" 2.0.0-p0 :009 > variable_get(:variable) NoMethodError: undefined method `variable_get' for main:Object from (irb):9 from /usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.0.0-p0/bin/irb:16:in `<main>' 2.0.0-p0 :010 > ``` I'm simply trying to programmatically 'query' for a variable and return its contents. Exactly like instance_variable_get but for a variable. It's for a custom rspec matcher. Not some crazy workaround :)