Question

I see this variable in image_temp_file.rb in makeTempname() in the mini_magick library.

Answer 1

The $ begins a reference to a global variable. Programs will typically define something like $name and the system predefines a number of information and control references.

$$, in particular, is the process ID.

 
    $name program-defined global variable
    $!  latest error message
    $@  location of error
    $_  string last read by gets
    $.  line number last read by interpreter
    $&  string last matched by regexp
    $~  the last regexp match, as an array of subexpressions
    $n  the nth subexpression in the last match (same as $~[n])
    $=  case-insensitivity flag
    $/  input record separator
    $\  output record separator
    $0  the name of the ruby script file
    $*  the command line arguments
    $$  interpreter's process ID
    $?  exit status of last executed child process