From: Benny <linux@...>
Date: 2004-08-09T22:51:18+09:00
Subject: Re: stupid question: Object#name

ok after rethinking I have to correct me:
substitute Object#name with Object#names
in my first posting

Florian Gross wrote:
> No, because Objects don't have names. Variables however do. The
> association between an Object to a Variable isn't really something that
> is unique.
ok, but AFAIK there is no variable class in ruby :)
> 
> Here are some samples:
 here are some possible implementations (for Object#names)
> 
> x = 5;
x.names #=> ["x"]
> (4 + 1).name 
#=> nil
> x = y = Object.new; 
x.names #=> ["x","y"]
y.names #=> ["x","y"]
> Object.new.name
#=> nil

I think in the kernel we have symbols attached to object-ids (do we?)
so why not have a method to show us the symbols to a corresponding
object_id?

> 
>> btw. why didn't matz make Class and Object be the same thing?
> 
> In which context? If he did Ruby would be a prototype-based language
> where the only way to build similar Objects is to have a template object
> which you clone.
but I thought we would have some: the class Object (since its a class its
also an object in ruby) or did I get you wrong (I must admit I have no idea
of the formal meaning / definition of �prototype-based language�)

> 
> BTW, what are you wanting that .name method for? If it is for debugging
> reasons there might be another way of doing it.
you mean Kernel#caller, right? :)
so its simply comfortable if you can use 

name = MyClass.new(params)

instead of 

name = MyClass.new(name, params)

the last one is doubled effort and if you accidently choose
different names for the object and the content of the name-attribut
you may later on have to remember 2 different names or fix it. 
it may also be confusing.

(I like to iterate over all objects of a class and often I need the name of
the object in the iteration to identify the current thing.
in the iteration I like to invoke certain methods, so in the end they are
processed on every object of that class)


> 
>> kind greetings to all the rubyists.
>> benny
> 
> More regards,
> Florian Gross
dito,

benny