embedded_strings.rb

$:.unshift 'PATHTOINTERNALSCODE'
require 'string_internals.bundle'

def scan_for title, s, indent=0
  GC.start 
  times = 0
  content = ''
  ObjectSpace.each_object(String) do |str|
    if str == s
      times += 1 
      content << " " * indent
      content << "  %d " % str.object_id
      content << str.internals.
        select { |k,v| v }.
        map { |k,v| v==true ? k : "#{k}=#{v.object_id}" }.
        join(', ')
      content << "\n"
    end
  end
  puts " "*indent + "string(#{s[0,10].inspect}) occurs #{times} times: {"
  puts content
  puts " "*indent + "}"
end

def print_parts parts
  puts "Parts array: {"
  parts.each_with_index do |p, i|
    scan_for "part #{i}", p, 2
  end
  puts "}"
end 

def experiment s
  parts = s.split /\s/ # Uncomment and comment. Why does the original string now occur 2 more times (1 per match?) in the ObjectSpace than without splitting?
  scan_for 'original', s
  print_parts parts
end

s = "One Two Three" # Shorter than 24 characters.
experiment s
 
puts 
s = "One Two Three Four Five" # Shorter than 24 characters.
experiment s

puts
s = "One Two Three Four Five Six" # Longer than 24 characters.
experiment s

puts
s = "a" * 30 + " " + "b" * 30
experiment s