From: Ara.T.Howard@...
Date: 2004-11-07T12:43:43+09:00
Subject: Re: using LDAP Controls in ruby-ldap

On Sun, 7 Nov 2004, Sean E. Russell wrote:

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> On Friday 05 November 2004 20:30, Jason Wold wrote:
>>> You could try something like this
>>> a =3D OpenSSL::ASN1::Sequence.new([OpenSSL::ASN1::Integer.new('10'),
>>> OpenSSL::ASN1::OctetString.new('')])
>>>
>>> control.value =3D a.to_der
>>
>> '10' needs to be just the integer 10, and then it works.
>
> I'd like to point out, for the record, that this is a perfect example of ho=
> w=20
> type checking in a language is a good thing.

alternatively the source for OpenSSL::ASN1::Integer#initialize might/should
be written as

   def initialize arg
     arg = Integer arg
     ...
   end

and all would be well.  i think a good general rule for production code is to

   a) convert to the type you need, String, Integer, etc.

   b) duck-type by checking for methods

but of course we never to that.  i can say that, ultimately, i like the lack
of type checking in ruby since i find many methods (say using a tklabel with
the built-in logger class) just 'works' with the addition of a method or two.
it would be a shame to lose this flexiblity.  i don't think strong typing is
all bad, but so many langauges get it wrong that the thought just makes me
cringe.  the ocaml compiler sure is impressive tough.  if i started out that
way i might be a strong typing fan but...  i guess i think strong typing
without type inference is evil.  i also hate getting 'int-ified' by c
compilers...

kind regards.

-a
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