# Mash allows you to create pseudo-objects that have method-like
# accessors for hash keys. This is useful for such implementations
# as an API-accessing library that wants to fake robust objects
# without the overhead of actually doing so. Think of it as OpenStruct
# with some additional goodies.
#
# A Mash will look at the methods you pass it and perform operations
# based on the following rules:
#
# * No punctuation: Returns the value of the hash for that key, or nil if none exists.
# * Assignment (=): Sets the attribute of the given method name.
# * Existence (?): Returns true or false depending on whether that key has been set.
# * Bang (!): Forces the existence of this key, used for deep Mashes. Think of it as "touch" for mashes.
#
# == Basic Example
#
# mash = Mash.new
# mash.name? # => false
# mash.name = "Bob"
# mash.name # => "Bob"
# mash.name? # => true
#
# == Hash Conversion Example
#
# hash = {:a => {:b => 23, :d => {:e => "abc"}}, :f => [{:g => 44, :h => 29}, 12]}
# mash = Mash.new(hash)
# mash.a.b # => 23
# mash.a.d.e # => "abc"
# mash.f.first.g # => 44
# mash.f.last # => 12
#
# == Bang Example
#
# mash = Mash.new
# mash.author # => nil
# mash.author! # =>
#
# mash = Mash.new
# mash.author!.name = "Michael Bleigh"
# mash.author # =>
#
class Mash < Hash
# If you pass in an existing hash, it will
# convert it to a Mash including recursively
# descending into arrays and hashes, converting
# them as well.
def initialize(source_hash = nil, &blk)
deep_update(source_hash) if source_hash
super(&blk)
end
class << self; alias [] new; end
def id #:nodoc:
self["id"] ? self["id"] : super
end
# Borrowed from Merb's Mash object.
#
# ==== Parameters
# key