From: "David A. Black" <dblack@...>
Date: 2005-01-22T22:04:53+09:00
Subject: Re: Refernce objects

Hi --

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005, Jacob Fugal wrote:

> 2) An empty parameter list is usually unnecessary, thus you can both
> define and call cached_instances without needing the '()'. Attaching
> an empty parameter list differs from no parameter list in only two
> cases I can think of; a) super vs. super() and b) disambiguating
> between a local variable and method of the same name (this may not
> even be an issue).

You can use them that way:

irb(main):003:0> def x; 1; end; x = 2
=> 2
irb(main):004:0> x
=> 2
irb(main):005:0>  x()
=> 1

though just making the receiver explicit (self) is fine too.  Other
than those cases I can't think of any time you'd need empty parens.
Everything after the dot is automatically a method call, so the parens
don't convey any new information.


David

-- 
David A. Black
dblack@wobblini.net