From: "Sean E. Russell" <ser@...>
Date: 2005-03-30T21:52:41+09:00
Subject: Re: New block syntax

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On Monday 21 March 2005 16:17, David A. Black wrote:
> What about this:
>
>    def name(x); end
>
>    [name:'bill']   # {:name =3D> 'bill'} or [name('bill')] ?

	irb(main):001:0> def name(x); end
	=3D> nil
	irb(main):002:0> [name:5]
	SyntaxError: compile error
	(irb):2: syntax error
	[name:5]
	       ^
	        from (irb):2
	irb(main):003:0> name:5
	SyntaxError: compile error
	(irb):3: syntax error
	        from (irb):3

Where are you seeing a problem?

> Actually it sounds like less flexibility and more fragility.  For
> example, I suspect the answer to my questions above would be:  commas
> would not be allowed as hash key/value separators any more, and

Yeah, that's what he proposed; personally, I don't much mind it, as I never=
=20
use the comma-separated constructor, but it *is* a significant syntax chang=
e.

> whitespace would be required before a symbol argument to a method, and

Isn't it already?  Whitespace, or a token character, is required before a=20
symbol argument, AFAIK.  Are you looking at a different version of Ruby tha=
n=20
I am?

EG:

     [name(:foo)]
     [name :foo]        # [name(:foo)]
     ['name': 'foo']     # { 'name' =3D> 'foo' }
     [name: 'foo']      # ditto

Anti-symbols :-)

> so on.  So writing a Hash correctly would involved threading a much
> narrower needle.

Any reduction of typing does this, but that isn't an argument for having a=
=20
terse syntax.  Ruby has always played it fast and loose.  This syntax isn't=
=20
more obfuscated; it is still clear what is being meant with:

    h =3D [ one: 'me', two: 'you', something: 'else' ]

Well, at least, to me this seems pretty natural, and much easier to type th=
an=20
hashes defined with =3D>, and much clearer than hashes defined with ','.  W=
ith=20
long comma-separated hashes, it can be difficult to associate keys with=20
values; this syntax is more clear.

=2D-=20
=2D-- SER

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents,=20
more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.  On some=20
great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach=20
their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned=20
by a downright moron."        -  H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

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