README.md

TL;DR

Both methods are nearly identical in perf. Differences are due more to underlying forwarded messages' implementation than how the message forwarding is defined.

Summary

Error rates between each type, for the most part, negate any real ranking. A real stat analysis would be necessary to make a real determination.

Grouped by Command style:

Run	Command Yield	Command Yield (Org)	Command Call	Command Call (Org)
1	224069.0 (±11.3%) i/s	227037.6 (±9.4%) i/s	205042.9 (±13.2%) i/s	212378.1 (±11.5%) i/s
2	196817.8 (±10.4%) i/s	195754.9 (±10.7%) i/s	189370.0 (±11.8%) i/s	191440.7 (±10.8%) i/s
3	184519.9 (±13.6%) i/s	177827.8 (±15.1%) i/s	177708.1 (±13.7%) i/s	175607.0 (±14.7%) i/s

Grouped by Query style:

Run	Query Yield	Query Yield (Org)	Query Call	Query Call (Org)
1	228332.1 (±8.9%) i/s	213187.1 (±14.8%) i/s	196810.4 (±15.8%) i/s	187438.8 (±15.8%) i/s
2	202684.5 (±15.5%) i/s	201411.5 (±15.9%) i/s	196702.8 (±16.4%) i/s	194909.3 (±16.3%) i/s
3	184557.5 (±14.1%) i/s	193942.4 (±12.8%) i/s	178738.8 (±15.1%) i/s	185981.8 (±10.9%) i/s

In rank order:

Run 1	Run 2	Run 3
Query Yield Command Yield (Org) Command Yield Query Yield (Org) Command Call (Org) Command Call Query Call Query Call (Org)

Machine

• MRI Ruby 2.1.3
• Macbook Air 2012 (OS X 10.9.4, 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5, 8GB 1600 MHz DDR3)

Test Run #1

Calculating -------------------------------------
Command message with block to message using yield
                         13967 i/100ms
Command message with block to message using call
                         14445 i/100ms
(Org) Command message with block to message using yield
                         15055 i/100ms
(Org) Command message with block to message using call
                         13646 i/100ms
Query message with block to message using yield
                         15628 i/100ms
Query message with block to message using call
                         14149 i/100ms
(Org) Query message with block to message using yield
                         14159 i/100ms
(Org) Query message with block to message using call
                         14834 i/100ms
-------------------------------------------------
Command message with block to message using yield
                       224069.0 (±11.3%) i/s -    1117360 in   5.061352s
Command message with block to message using call
                       205042.9 (±13.2%) i/s -    1011150 in   5.038566s
(Org) Command message with block to message using yield
                       227037.6 (±9.4%) i/s -    1129125 in   5.028497s
(Org) Command message with block to message using call
                       212378.1 (±11.5%) i/s -    1050742 in   5.026626s
Query message with block to message using yield
                       228332.1 (±8.9%) i/s -    1140844 in   5.045268s
Query message with block to message using call
                       196810.4 (±15.8%) i/s -     976281 in   5.119127s
(Org) Query message with block to message using yield
                       213187.1 (±14.8%) i/s -    1047766 in   5.047181s
(Org) Query message with block to message using call
                       187438.8 (±15.8%) i/s -     919708 in   5.041849s

Test Run #2

Calculating -------------------------------------
Command message with block to message using yield
                         12414 i/100ms
Command message with block to message using call
                         13097 i/100ms
(Org) Command message with block to message using yield
                         14254 i/100ms
(Org) Command message with block to message using call
                         13655 i/100ms
Query message with block to message using yield
                         13783 i/100ms
Query message with block to message using call
                         12134 i/100ms
(Org) Query message with block to message using yield
                         14120 i/100ms
(Org) Query message with block to message using call
                         13832 i/100ms
-------------------------------------------------
Command message with block to message using yield
                       196817.8 (±10.4%) i/s -     980706 in   5.044359s
Command message with block to message using call
                       189370.0 (±11.8%) i/s -     942984 in   5.062401s
(Org) Command message with block to message using yield
                       195754.9 (±10.7%) i/s -     969272 in   5.019372s
(Org) Command message with block to message using call
                       191440.7 (±10.8%) i/s -     955850 in   5.063915s
Query message with block to message using yield
                       202684.5 (±15.5%) i/s -     992376 in   5.040518s
Query message with block to message using call
                       196702.8 (±16.4%) i/s -     958586 in   5.038450s
(Org) Query message with block to message using yield
                       201411.5 (±15.9%) i/s -     988400 in   5.061654s
(Org) Query message with block to message using call
                       194909.3 (±16.3%) i/s -     954408 in   5.055687s

Test Run #3

Calculating -------------------------------------
Command message with block to message using yield
                         13694 i/100ms
Command message with block to message using call
                         14203 i/100ms
(Org) Command message with block to message using yield
                         14299 i/100ms
(Org) Command message with block to message using call
                         13826 i/100ms
Query message with block to message using yield
                         14279 i/100ms
Query message with block to message using call
                         13383 i/100ms
(Org) Query message with block to message using yield
                         14594 i/100ms
(Org) Query message with block to message using call
                         14112 i/100ms
-------------------------------------------------
Command message with block to message using yield
                       184519.9 (±13.6%) i/s -     903804 in   5.014295s
Command message with block to message using call
                       177708.1 (±13.7%) i/s -     880586 in   5.067764s
(Org) Command message with block to message using yield
                       177827.8 (±15.1%) i/s -     872239 in   5.039058s
(Org) Command message with block to message using call
                       175607.0 (±14.7%) i/s -     857212 in   5.014550s
Query message with block to message using yield
                       184557.5 (±14.1%) i/s -     899577 in   5.006598s
Query message with block to message using call
                       178738.8 (±15.1%) i/s -     869895 in   5.015188s
(Org) Query message with block to message using yield
                       193942.4 (±12.8%) i/s -     948610 in   5.022701s
(Org) Query message with block to message using call
                       185981.8 (±10.9%) i/s -     917280 in   5.000594s

direction.rb

require "direction/version"
# Provide a feature like the Forwardable library,
# but set the return value to self.
# It provides a class level "command" method to do
# message forwarding.
#
# class SomeClass
#   extend Direction
#
#   command [:print_details, :setup_things] => :collaborator
#   query [:name, :id] => :collaborator, :type => :@partner
# end
#
# This will define methods on instances that forward to the
# provided receiver while enforcing encapsulation of the
# relationship between objects.
module Direction

  # Generates a string sufficient to forward messages to the accessor.
  # Specify the return_value for the result of the forwarded message.
  def self.message_handler(message, accessor, return_value)
    %{
      def #{message}(*args, &block)
        #{accessor}.__send__(:#{message}, *args, &block)
        #{return_value}
      end
    }
#    %{
#    def #{message}(*args)
#      if block_given?
#        #{accessor}.__send__(:#{message}, *args) { |*block_args| yield(*block_args) }
#      else
#        #{accessor}.__send__(:#{message}, *args)
#      end
#      #{return_value}
#    end
#    }
  end

  # Loops over a hash of options and defines methods to the apply_to module/class provided.
  # Specify the return_value for the result of all forwarded messages.
  def self.setup_forwarding(options, apply_to:, return_value: '')
    method_defs = []
    options.each_pair do |key, value|
      Array(key).map do |command_name|
        method_defs.unshift Direction.message_handler(command_name, value, return_value)
      end
    end
    apply_to.class_eval method_defs.join(' '), __FILE__, __LINE__
  end

  # Forward messages and return self, protecting the encapsulation of the object
  def command(options)
    Direction.setup_forwarding(options, apply_to: self, return_value: 'self')
  end

  # Forward messages and return the result of the forwarded message
  def query(options)
    Direction.setup_forwarding(options, apply_to: self)
  end
end

direction_org.rb

require "direction/version"
# Provide a feature like the Forwardable library,
# but set the return value to self.
# It provides a class level "command" method to do
# message forwarding.
#
# class SomeClass
#   extend Direction
#
#   command [:print_details, :setup_things] => :collaborator
#   query [:name, :id] => :collaborator, :type => :@partner
# end
#
# This will define methods on instances that forward to the
# provided receiver while enforcing encapsulation of the
# relationship between objects.
module DirectionOrg

  # Generates a string sufficient to forward messages to the accessor.
  # Specify the return_value for the result of the forwarded message.
  def self.message_handler(message, accessor, return_value)
    %{
      def #{message}(*args, &block)
        #{accessor}.__send__(:#{message}, *args, &block)
        #{return_value}
      end
    }
  end

  # Loops over a hash of options and defines methods to the apply_to module/class provided.
  # Specify the return_value for the result of all forwarded messages.
  def self.setup_forwarding(options, apply_to:, return_value: '')
    method_defs = []
    options.each_pair do |key, value|
      Array(key).map do |command_name|
        method_defs.unshift Direction.message_handler(command_name, value, return_value)
      end
    end
    apply_to.class_eval method_defs.join(' '), __FILE__, __LINE__
  end

  # Forward messages and return self, protecting the encapsulation of the object
  def command(options)
    Direction.setup_forwarding(options, apply_to: self, return_value: 'self')
  end

  # Forward messages and return the result of the forwarded message
  def query(options)
    Direction.setup_forwarding(options, apply_to: self)
  end
end

perf_test.rb

require 'direction'
require 'direction_org'
require 'benchmark/ips'

class PersonOrg
  extend DirectionOrg
  command [:make_me_a_sandwich, :cook, :blocky, :blocky_call] => :@friend
  query [:activities, :go, :say_what, :say_what_call] => :friend
  attr_accessor :friend
end

class Person
  extend Direction
  command [:make_me_a_sandwich, :cook, :blocky, :blocky_call] => :@friend
  query [:activities, :go, :say_what, :say_what_call] => :friend
  attr_accessor :friend
end

class Friend
  def make_me_a_sandwich
  end

  def cook(what)
  end

  def activities
    'running, biking, hiking'
  end

  def go(do_what)
  end

  def blocky(text)
    yield(self)
  end

  def blocky_call(text, &block)
    block.call(self)
  end

  def say_what(text)
    yield(self)
  end

  def say_what_call(text, &block)
    block.call(self)
  end
end

person = Person.new
person.friend = Friend.new

person_org = PersonOrg.new
person_org.friend = Friend.new

Benchmark.ips do |r|
  r.report('Command message with block to message using yield') do
    person.blocky('yay!') do |friend|
      "Arguments forwarded to #{friend}"
    end
  end

  r.report('Command message with block to message using call') do
    person.blocky_call('yay!') do |friend|
      "Arguments forwarded to #{friend}"
    end
  end

  r.report('(Org) Command message with block to message using yield') do
    person_org.blocky('yay!') do |friend|
      "Arguments forwarded to #{friend}"
    end
  end

  r.report('(Org) Command message with block to message using call') do
    person_org.blocky_call('yay!') do |friend|
      "Arguments forwarded to #{friend}"
    end
  end

  r.report('Query message with block to message using yield') do
    person.say_what('yay!') do |friend|
      "Arguments forwarded to #{friend}"
    end
  end

  r.report('Query message with block to message using call') do
    person.say_what_call('yay!') do |friend|
      "Arguments forwarded to #{friend}"
    end
  end

  r.report('(Org) Query message with block to message using yield') do
    person_org.say_what('yay!') do |friend|
      "Arguments forwarded to #{friend}"
    end
  end

  r.report('(Org) Query message with block to message using call') do
    person_org.say_what_call('yay!') do |friend|
      "Arguments forwarded to #{friend}"
    end
  end
end