Use getter methods instead of instance variables in Ruby objects

When I think about a Ruby object I try to minimize the public methods that it exposes. My line of thinking is that all methods should be private unless there is a real reason to make that method public. When making a method public you are signing a contract with another developer that you will keep that method the same for as long as possible (the same parameters, the same return, the same effects …). So I think the default position should be to limit your liabilities. A getter is a method so when you think about defining getters you should think if you really need to expose them and make them public.