[ruby-core:29462] [Feature #3131] add Kernel#Hash() method like Kernel#Array()

Feature #3131: add Kernel#Hash() method like Kernel#Array()
http://redmine.ruby-lang.org/issues/show/3131

Author: Suraj Kurapati
Status: Open, Priority: Normal
Category: core, Target version: 1.9.x

Hello,

There is an imbalance of power in the Ruby core API (when it comes 
to arrays and hashes) because it is easier to convert nil values 
into empty arrays, thanks to Kernel#Array(), than it is to convert 
nil values into empty hashes, due to lack of Kernel#Hash().

To correct this asymmetry and restore a balance of power, please
add a Kernel#Hash() method for converting nil, Array, and Hash
values into hashes:

    module Kernel
      def Hash(value)
        if value.respond_to? :to_hash
          value.to_hash
        elsif value.respond_to? :to_ary
          Hash[*value.to_ary]
        elsif value.nil?
          {}
        else
          raise ArgumentError, "invalid value for Hash: #{value}"
        end
      end
    end

For example, here is how I would use the above API:

    #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # CASE 1: to_hash
    #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    real_hash = {:real => true}
    Hash(real_hash) # => {:real=>true}

    fake_hash = Object.new
    def fake_hash.to_hash
      {:fake => true}
    end
    Hash(fake_hash) # => {:fake=>true}

    #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # CASE 2: to_ary
    #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    real_array = [:real, true]
    Hash(real_array) # => {:real=>true}

    fake_array = Object.new
    def fake_array.to_ary
      [:fake, true]
    end
    Hash(fake_array) # => {:fake=>true}

    #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # CASE 3: nil
    #-------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hash(nil) # => {}

    #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # CASE 4: unsupported arguments
    #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    >> Hash(true)
    ArgumentError: invalid value for Hash: true
            from (irb):74:in `Hash'
            from (irb):80
            from /usr/bin/irb:12:in `<main>'

    >> Hash(false)
    ArgumentError: invalid value for Hash: false
            from (irb):74:in `Hash'
            from (irb):81
            from /usr/bin/irb:12:in `<main>'

    >> Hash(123)
    ArgumentError: invalid value for Hash: 123
            from (irb):74:in `Hash'
            from (irb):82
            from /usr/bin/irb:12:in `<main>'

Thanks for your consideration.


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