The `open` method can be used to open files or URLs and it's deprecated
in Ruby 2.7. In this case, it's clear we're dealing with a URL, so we
can use `URI.parse`.
The code was a bit strange, since it returned a value and had a side
effect: opening the URL. I'm not sure about the intention of the code;
my best guess is we wanted to test the URL exists and was accessible
before returning it (and, if that's the case, IMHO the code should be a
bit more explicit in order to show the intention behind it), but it
could also be an unintended side effect which was there by accident.
Now the URL is no longer opened; if the URL isn't accessible, we'll find
out when trying to connect to it with the Savon client.
We were inconsistent on this one. I consider it particularly useful when
a method starts with a `return` statement.
In other cases, we probably shouldn't have a guard rule in the middle of
a method in any case, but that's a different refactoring.
We were very inconsistent regarding these rules.
Personally I prefer no empty lines around blocks, clases, etc... as
recommended by the Ruby style guide [1], and they're the default values
in rubocop, so those are the settings I'm applying.
The exception is the `private` access modifier, since we were leaving
empty lines around it most of the time. That's the default rubocop rule
as well. Personally I don't have a strong preference about this one.
[1] https://rubystyle.guide/#empty-lines-around-bodies
