From: Sam Sungshik Kong <ssk@...>
Date: 2004-06-26T03:13:08+09:00
Subject: Re: I am confused with Value Type Objects

Wow, I'm so impressed that within 30 minutes I got 3 answers...:-)
This group is very active, helpful, and enthusiastic.
Thanks all.

May I ask further questions related to the direct value type objects?

Now I understand how the FixNum is stored in the memory.
What about other value types - true, false, nil?
How are they distinguished from FixNum?
What are their sized?

Sorry to bother you guys with my beginner questions.

Sam

"Sam Sungshik Kong" <ssk@chol.nospam.net> wrote in message
news:nmZCc.1209$QR1.961@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com...
> Hello!
>
> In ruby, every object is reference type except for FixNum, NilClass,
> TrueClass, FalseClass.
> Let's consider FixNum only.
>
> According to http://www.rubygarden.org/ruby?GCAndMemoryManagement, FixNum
> takes only 4 bytes (on 32-bit machines).
> Is it true?
> If so, doesn't it have any other information except for the value itself?
> How does ruby know that a FixNum is actually a FixNum instead of a
reference
> to an object when it doesn't have any information about the type?
>
> I'm from C# background.
> In C# (actually dotnet framework), values types are structures not just a
> simple value.
>
> Could somebody resolve my confusion?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Sam
>
>
>