title: Why isn't current directory on my Ruby path?
body: <p>Is there any reason why my present working directory is not on my Ruby path?</p>
  
  <p>Consider:</p>
  
  <pre><code>~:499$ irb
  ruby-1.9.2-p136 :002 &gt; puts $:
  /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.9.1
  /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/lib/ruby/site_ruby/1.9.1/x86_64-darwin10.6.0
  /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/lib/ruby/site_ruby
  /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/lib/ruby/vendor_ruby/1.9.1
  /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/lib/ruby/vendor_ruby/1.9.1/x86_64-darwin10.6.0
  /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/lib/ruby/vendor_ruby
  /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/lib/ruby/1.9.1
  /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/lib/ruby/1.9.1/x86_64-darwin10.6.0
   =&gt; nil 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This is really bothering me because require isn't working as I thought it would (although I'm a ruby nuby):</p>
  
  <pre><code>require 'some_file_that_I_know_darn_well_is_in_pwd.rb'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>If I append <code>'.'</code> to the end, then the require works as I'd expect.</p>
  
  <p>What am I missing?</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE:</strong></p>
  
  <p>Arg! Now I'm getting a new problem.  Consider:</p>
  
  <pre><code>ruby-1.9.2-p136 :010 &gt; `ls`
   =&gt; "start.rb\n" 
  ruby-1.9.2-p136 :011 &gt; require_relative 'start'
  LoadError: cannot infer basepath
      from (irb):11:in `require_relative'
      from (irb):11
      from /Users/mrberryman/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p136/bin/irb:16:in `&lt;main&gt;'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Now what's up?</p>