[ruby-talk:11654] Re: RCR: shortcut for instance variable initialization

Mathieu Bouchard wrote:
>On Tue, 27 Feb 2001, Dave Thomas wrote:
>> So, could we change parameter passing slightly so that if an instance
>> method has a formal parameter starting with an '@' sign, the incoming
>> value is assigned directly to the corresponding instance variable?
>> Using this scheme I could write the above as:
>>   class Msg
>>     def initialize(@name, @type, @txt)
>>     end
>>   end
>
>I agree with that change.
>
>This also makes an attribute writer something like: 
>
>def some_attr=(@some_attr); end

Hmmmmmm. I can see the value for the initialize 
method. But we alerady have an attribute writer 
shortcut, so the latter doesn't help me.

I'm concerned that ANY method can smack your 
member variables when you might have just 
accidentally put the @ in out of habit from 
writing it so many times elsewhere. It just makes 
me a little nervous.

Could we say that initialize is the only method 
to get this special treatment? 

Or is there some way to have one line of code 
that means "copy each of the passed parameters 
into member variables with corresponding names"? 
This would allow something like this:

  def initialize(name, type, txt)
     set_locals_to_params
     ... more code here...
  end

Kevin