To inspect the program normal.rb with PrivatePlease, launch it one of these ways : $ ruby -rubygems -e "require 'private_please' ; load 'normal.rb'" or $ bundle exec ruby -e "require 'private_please' ; load 'normal.rb'" You can also insert the require 'private_please' code in the program itself. (see normal_prepended_with_require.rb, line 3) ruby normal.rb -> ruby -rubygems -e "require 'private_please' ; load 'normal.rb'" ruby -rubygems simple_with_require.rb be ruby normal.rb -> be ruby -e "require 'private_please' ; load 'normal.rb'" be ruby simple_with_require.rb