$_ is last read line. Also you have methods in Kernel that operate on $_:

• chop
• chomp
• sub
• gsub
• print - if no argument given print content of $_

If you want to print some variable often then use trace_var(:var_name){|a|p a}

$_ is last read line.

• print - if no argument given print content of $_
• ~/regexp/ - short for $_=~/regexp/

In Ruby 1.8, you have four methods in Kernel that operate on $_:

• chop
• chomp
• sub
• gsub

In Ruby 1.9, these four methods exist only if your script uses -n or -p.

If you want to print some variable often then use trace_var(:var_name){|a|p a}