--- /dev/null
+# Extensions to +nil+ which allow for more helpful error messages for people who
+# are new to Rails.
+#
+# Ruby raises NoMethodError if you invoke a method on an object that does not
+# respond to it:
+#
+# $ ruby -e nil.destroy
+# -e:1: undefined method `destroy' for nil:NilClass (NoMethodError)
+#
+# With these extensions, if the method belongs to the public interface of the
+# classes in NilClass::WHINERS the error message suggests which could be the
+# actual intended class:
+#
+# $ script/runner nil.destroy
+# ...
+# You might have expected an instance of ActiveRecord::Base.
+# ...
+#
+# NilClass#id exists in Ruby 1.8 (though it is deprecated). Since +id+ is a fundamental
+# method of Active Record models NilClass#id is redefined as well to raise a RuntimeError
+# and warn the user. She probably wanted a model database identifier and the 4
+# returned by the original method could result in obscure bugs.
+#
+# The flag <tt>config.whiny_nils</tt> determines whether this feature is enabled.
+# By default it is on in development and test modes, and it is off in production
+# mode.
+class NilClass
+ WHINERS = [::Array]
+ WHINERS << ::ActiveRecord::Base if defined? ::ActiveRecord
+
+ METHOD_CLASS_MAP = Hash.new
+
+ WHINERS.each do |klass|
+ methods = klass.public_instance_methods - public_instance_methods
+ class_name = klass.name
+ methods.each { |method| METHOD_CLASS_MAP[method.to_sym] = class_name }
+ end
+
+ # Raises a RuntimeError when you attempt to call +id+ on +nil+.
+ def id
+ raise RuntimeError, "Called id for nil, which would mistakenly be 4 -- if you really wanted the id of nil, use object_id", caller
+ end
+
+ private
+ def method_missing(method, *args, &block)
+ raise_nil_warning_for METHOD_CLASS_MAP[method], method, caller
+ end
+
+ # Raises a NoMethodError when you attempt to call a method on +nil+.
+ def raise_nil_warning_for(class_name = nil, selector = nil, with_caller = nil)
+ message = "You have a nil object when you didn't expect it!"
+ message << "\nYou might have expected an instance of #{class_name}." if class_name
+ message << "\nThe error occurred while evaluating nil.#{selector}" if selector
+
+ raise NoMethodError, message, with_caller || caller
+ end
+end
+