# Updated Reserved Words? **URL:** \ **Category:** rubyonrails-talk\ **Created:** [February 1, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584 "2012-02-01T18:46:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![walterdavis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/rubyonrails/user_avatar/discuss.rubyonrails.org/walterdavis/32/705_2.png) [@walterdavis](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/walterdavis)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584/1 "2012-02-01T18:46:33Z")
In another thread, status was apparently outed as a reserved word, but I can't find that documented anywhere. The latest list that Google could find was from July 2011, and it didn't include that word. The "old" wiki comes up in searches, but doesn't appear to be maintained any more. I've looked through the Rails Guides, and this doesn't appear to be a topic there. Can anyone point to a canonical resource listing all of the words guaranteed to make Rails angry? Thanks in advance, Walter ---
**Author:** ![Don](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@Don](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Don)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584/2 "2012-02-02T15:38:16Z")
+1… (so frustrating that this is not provided as part of the core Rails docs - I’ve wasted more time debugging crap caused by reserved word clashes than any other single thing in Rails.) Don ---
**Author:** ![Colin\_Law1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Colin\_Law1](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Colin_Law1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584/3 "2012-02-02T15:46:26Z")
I suggest that one of you pick up all the old data they can find and start a new list somewhere. Preferably on a wiki so others can add to it as they get problems. Then you will be able to rest on your laurels for the rest of your life knowing that you have done a great service to the community. The problem with making it part of the core docs is that many of the words (I guess) are from gems rather than core code. Colin ---
**Author:** ![Philip\_Hallstrom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Philip\_Hallstrom](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Philip_Hallstrom)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584/4 "2012-02-02T18:37:05Z")
> > +1... (so frustrating that this is not provided as part of the core Rails docs - I've wasted more time debugging crap caused by reserved word clashes than any other single thing in Rails.) > > I suggest that one of you pick up all the old data they can find and start a new list somewhere. Preferably on a wiki so others can add to it as they get problems. Then you will be able to rest on your laurels for the rest of your life knowing that you have done a great service to the community. > > The problem with making it part of the core docs is that many of the words (I guess) are from gems rather than core code. You might try loading up rails console and... Module.constants ActiveRecord::constants ActiveRecord::Base::constants And so on for the other top level module/classes.... -philip ---
**Author:** ![Colin\_Law1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Colin\_Law1](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Colin_Law1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584/5 "2012-02-02T21:03:57Z")
That would only catch a small subset would it not? There are also methods to worry about. I wonder whether one could write a script to extract them all. That sounds like a nice little project for someone. Colin ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Vandenabeele1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/59ef9b/32.png) [@Peter\_Vandenabeele1](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Peter_Vandenabeele1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584/6 "2012-02-02T21:17:42Z")
Just for starters. My vim editor highlights many “special” words within a few ms after typing them, which acts as immediate feedback. I presume other editors have that too. - there must be a list of “special words” maintained somewhere in that project (Google for “ruby vim extension” ?) - Using that is actually very handy and would be a first level of defense if one is worried about accidentally using a special word. I find that very helpful. Peter ---
**Author:** ![walterdavis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/rubyonrails/user_avatar/discuss.rubyonrails.org/walterdavis/32/705_2.png) [@walterdavis](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/walterdavis)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584/7 "2012-02-08T16:36:14Z")
> > +1... (so frustrating that this is not provided as part of the core Rails docs - I've wasted more time debugging crap caused by reserved word clashes than any other single thing in Rails.) > > I suggest that one of you pick up all the old data they can find and start a new list somewhere. Preferably on a wiki so others can add to it as they get problems. Then you will be able to rest on your laurels for the rest of your life knowing that you have done a great service to the community. > > The problem with making it part of the core docs is that many of the words (I guess) are from gems rather than core code. That's a great idea. Here's a start. I may move this somewhere more relevant if I get a moment. > **[Home](https://github.com/walterdavis/railsready/wiki)** > > Ruby and Rails setup script for Linux and OSX. Contribute to walterdavis/railsready development by creating an account on GitHub. Walter ---
**Author:** ![Colin\_Law1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Colin\_Law1](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Colin_Law1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/updated-reserved-words/62584/8 "2012-02-08T16:50:00Z")
It might be worth including a header explaining what the list is 🙂 Colin