From: Mark Sparshatt <msparshatt@...>
Date: 2004-06-14T06:10:16+09:00
Subject: Re: Use a string a object name

Mark Sparshatt wrote:

> Dirk Einecke wrote:
>
>> Mark Sparshatt wrote:
>>
>>> puts eval "p.#{s}"
>>
>>
>>
>> Okay. That works.
>>
>>> Though depending on what you're doing a better way might be to use 
>>> the send method
>>>
>>> puts p.send(s)
>>
>>
>>
>> Why is this a better way?
>>
> It's quicker since Ruby doesn't need to parse the expression string.
>
> Also, IMHO, it better expresses the fact that you're sending the 
> message contained in s to the object p.
>
I forgot to mention there are using security concerns with using eval. 
If s is taken from an external source then it's possible for someone to 
set it to

"send('system', 'rm -rf /')"

which would very quickly ruin your day.

-- 
Mark Sparshatt