# syntax for defining a class is simple: class <classname>
class MyClass 
    # class vars are defined with two @@ symbols
    @@classvar = nil

    # the constructor can take any number of paramters, and is named initialize
    def initialize(param)
        # a call to the super is done as the first line in your constructor
        #super(param)

        # membervars are defined with an @ symbol
        @membervar1 = nil
        @membervar2 = nil
    end

    # a method, called as instance.method()
    def method
        # self is ruby's form  of "this"
        self.membervar1
    end

    # this is an accessor method in ruby
    def membervar1
        @membervar1
    end

    # this is a mutator method in ruby
    def membervar1=(newval)
        @membervar1 = newval
    end

    # overloading the - operator
    def -(other)
    end

    # private methods
    def privatemethod1 
    end
    def privatemethod2
    end
    private :privatemethod1, :privatemethod2

    # protected methods
    def protectedmethod1 
    end
    def protectedmethod2
    end
    protected :protectedmethod1, :protectedmethod2

    # class method
    def MyClass.classMethod
    end

    # private class method
    def MyClass.privateClassMethod
    end
    private_class_method :privateClassMethod
end

# create an instance
instance = MyClass.new( "param" )

# lets add a method to instance on the fly!
def instance.singletonMethod
    puts "This will only belong to THIS instance of MyClass"
end

instance.singletonMethod

# we can also add methods to en entire class at runtime
class MyClass
    def newMethod
        puts "This will belong to all instances of MyClass"
    end
end

instance.newMethod