reverse_require requires specific files from the gems which depend on a certain RubyGem and contain the specified path. Using reverse_require one can allow others to easily extend the functionality of a RubyGem. Simply add reverse_require into the code of your RubyGem: reverse_require 'my_gem', 'some/path' Then other gems which depend upon +my_gem+ merely have to provide <tt>some/path</tt> within their <tt>lib/</tt> directory, and reverse_require will load them all at run-time. This ability makes designing plug-in systems for a RubyGem trivial.