gistfile1.js

/*
Simpler, more robust super keyword for Prototype.

Given the following parent class:

    var Person = Class.create({
      initialize: function(name) {
        this.name = name;
      },
  
      say: function(message) {
        return this.name + ': ' + message;
      }
    });

Subclassing with Class#callSuper:

    var Pirate = Class.create(Person, {
      say: function(message) {
        return this.callSuper('say', message) + ', yarr!';
      }
    });


... and using Class#applySuper, you can directly pass the arguments object:

    var Pirate = Class.create(Person, {
      say: function() {
        return this.applySuper('say', arguments) + ', yarr!';
      }
    });

Of course this also allows calling other methods of the subclass (Whether this is a good or a bad thing is a whole other topic).

    var Pirate = Class.create(Person, {
      say: function() {
        return this.applySuper('say', arguments) + ', yarr!';
      },

      yell: function(message) {
        return this.callSuper('say', message.toUpperCase());
      }
    });
*/

(function() {
  var slice = Array.prototype.slice;
  
  function callSuper(methodName) {
    return this.applySuper(methodName, slice.call(arguments, 1));
  }

  function applySuper(methodName, args) {
    return this.constructor.superclass.prototype[methodName].apply(this, args);
  }
  
  return {
    callSuper:  callSuper,
    applySuper: applySuper
  }
})();