Re: New block syntax

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

	irb(main):001:0> def name(x); end
	=> 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 
use the comma-separated constructor, but it *is* a significant syntax change.

> 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 
symbol argument, AFAIK.  Are you looking at a different version of Ruby than 
I am?

EG:

     [name(:foo)]
     [name :foo]        # [name(:foo)]
     ['name': 'foo']     # { 'name' => '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 
terse syntax.  Ruby has always played it fast and loose.  This syntax isn't 
more obfuscated; it is still clear what is being meant with:

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

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

-- 
--- SER

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