From: ko1@...
Date: 2019-09-25T11:54:50+00:00
Subject: [ruby-core:95085] [Ruby master Bug#16178] Numbered parameters: _1 should be the same as |x| and _0 should not exist

Issue #16178 has been updated by ko1 (Koichi Sasada).


> Beautifully simple:
> _0 is a single implicit parameter, as in x in { |x| }
> _1 is the first numbered parameter, as in x in { |x,y,z,etc| }
> _2 is the second numbered parameter, as in y in { |x,y,z,etc| }

I think `_0` and `_1` are very confusing because people can consider it is sequential meaning. However, the meaning is different.

It is same as `$0` and `$1`, but they are completely different feature (program name and regexp). `_0` and `_1` is very confusing.

This proposal also introduces inconsistency, but it is better than `_0` and `_1` idea, I think.

> Of course, having _ as the only unnamed parameter would have |x| semantics,
> but I guess it's too late for that and now we have _<n> parameters.

Completely agreed (and I like `<>` for `|e|` and `<n>` for `_n` :p, but rejected this notation).


----------------------------------------
Bug #16178: Numbered parameters: _1 should be the same as |x| and _0 should not exist
https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/16178#change-81717

* Author: Eregon (Benoit Daloze)
* Status: Closed
* Priority: Normal
* Assignee: matz (Yukihiro Matsumoto)
* Target version: 
* ruby -v: ruby 2.7.0dev (2019-09-24T12:57:54Z master 0e84eecc17) [x86_64-linux]
* Backport: 2.5: UNKNOWN, 2.6: UNKNOWN
----------------------------------------
Currently on trunk:
```ruby
array = ["string", 42, [1, 2]]

array.map { |x| x * 2 }
# => ["stringstring", 84, [1, 2, 1, 2]]

array.map { _1 * 2 }
# => ["stringstring", 84, 2]
```

Oops, this trivial code just lost data and completely ignored the element class!
This is clearly contrary to intuition and is very dangerous.

Using `_0` instead has the correct behavior but it's clear we use 1-based indexing for numbered parameters,
and it doesn't solve that `_1` has dangerous behavior.

Basically the current behavior is that `_0` is the same as `|x|` and `_1` is the same as `|x,|`.
`|x,|` is almost never used in Ruby, and for good reasons, it just throws away data/information/the class of the object.
Such a dangerous operation should only be done when it's explicit, and the trailing comma in `|x,|` shows that, but `_1` does not.

So let's make `_1` be `|x|` and remove `_0`.

I am going to be harsh, but this discussion has gone too long without any serious written argument for the current behavior:
I believe it's irrational and irresponsible to have `_1` be `|x,|`, it's just going to lead to nasty bugs.

Try to convince me otherwise.
If not, in one week I want to apply this change.

From the discussion in https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/15723#note-127
and in https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/15708

Some reactions to this behavior in https://twitter.com/eregontp/status/1115318993299083265



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