Cryptic error from rbreadline caused by unquoted key-combo in .inputrc when running irb.

[codeferret1]

In my .inputrc the following line:

C-u: possible-completions

causes: C:/Ruby192/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.9.1/rbreadline.rb:2398:in instance_eval': uninitialized constant Module::C (NameError) from C:/Ruby192/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.9.1/rbreadline.rb:2398:ininstance_eval'

For the unsurprising reason that it is trying to evaluate the C as-is, not as a string.

Changing the line to: "C-u": possible-completions

Fixes the error.

I was rather slow at finding the cause of this (http://groups.google.com/group/rubyinstaller/browse_thread/thread/fb14c5a950e335e4#).
It may be helpful to have a more to-the-point error message (or just handle unquoted key-combos).

-------------- Environment Ruby version: 1.8.7 Installed on windows via 1.8.7p302 RubyInstaller from rubyinstaller.org Windows 7

Steps to repro:

1. Install ruby via ruby installer.
2. Create .inputrc　like this in home directory:

   BEGIN FILE

   C-u: possible-completions

   END FILE

3. run irb
4. Confirm the cryptic error
5. Change .inputrc file to "C-u": possible-completions
6. run irb
7. Confirm there is no error :)

[luislavena]

Seems that the root of the issue is key = instance_eval(key)

Wonder why key is been install evaled.

Asking Park (the author) right now.

[codeferret1]

Yes, now that you mention it this does allow me to run arbitrary ruby code from my .inputrc:

BEGIN FILE

"C-u": possible-completions
puts "hi"
system("rm my_important_file.txt")
# END FILE

$ touch my_imporant_file.txt

$ irb

"hi" is printed

$ ctrl-D

$ ls | grep important

$

... Is that working as intended?

[luislavena]

No, inputrc should not be processed like active code

[luislavena]

Do not eval inputrc defitions. Closed by 28d987edc2fe8cc2684fa3e1bf612374b090d079