From: jeremy@... (Jeremy Henty)
Date: 2001-03-30T06:40:05+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:13341] Why is $_ local to the current scope?

This bit me when I wrote something like: 

    def barf() print "Yikes, can't cope with #{$_} at line #{$.}\n" end

If I barf at some random point then $. brings up (sorry!) the line
number but $_ is empty.  I have to pass $_ explicitly to barf (ok, I
*really* regret this terminology now!).  Why does one work and not the
other?

In the chapter "The Ruby Language" of "Programming Ruby", $_ is the
only variable under the heading "Input/Output Variables" that has
local scope, so it seems a bit anomalous.  Or am I looking at this the
wrong way?  Can someone explain the Ruby way here?

Also, I'm surprised that 'ARGF.each do ...' sets $. but not $_.  Again
I don't see the reason for this.  Enlightenment will be welcomed!

Cheers, 

Jeremy Henty