Stupid ruby tricks for ActiveRecord query syntax. For amusement only.

backtick_attribute_syntax.rb

module BacktickAttributeSyntax

  extend self

  # WARNING: this is a dangerous hack. Don't use it. It'll bite you if you ever
  # accidentally call backticks outside of a model.

  # Override backtick syntax to return an Arel attribute for use with
  # predications like `.gteq` in the model. To use the original shell
  # behaviour, (which should be very uncommon in ActiveRecord models), you can
  # pass a string starting with a "!"
  #
  #   where(`score`.gt 9000)
  #   where(`title`.like '% on rails')
  #
  #   `!whoami`
  #
  def `(str)
    if str[0] == ?!
      shell_command = str[1..-1].to_sym
      super(shell_command)
    else
      arel_table[str.to_sym]
    end
  end

end

# Don't do it, I warned you.
ActiveRecord::Base.extend BacktickAttributeSyntax