gistfile1.rb

# base for "smart" constant classes
class OptionSet
  def self.[](id)
    if id.is_a?(Fixnum)
      return local_constants.find {|c| id == const_get(c)}
    else
      return const_get(id.upcase)
    end
  end
  
  def self.options_for_select
    local_constants.map {|c| [c.titlecase, const_get(c)]}.sort_by {|c| c[1]}
  end
  
  private
  
  def self.local_constants
    constants - superclass.constants
  end
end

class User
  # values for status column
  class Status < OptionSet
    ACTIVE = 0
    DELETED = 1
    PANTS = 2
  end
end


>User::Status::PANTS
# => 2
>User::Status["Pants"]
# => 2
>User::Status[2]
# => "PANTS"
>User::Status.options_for_select
# => [["Active", 0], ["Deleted", 1], ["Pants", 2]]