From: Lionel Thiry <lthiryidontwantspam@...>
Date: 2005-03-15T22:58:31+09:00
Subject: Re: [newby] class variables and class instance variable?

>>>>>>Example >>>>>
> 
> class Mytest
>  @@n_of_Mytest = 0
>  def initialize
>   @@n_of_Mytest += 1
>  end
>  def Mytest.n_of_Mytest
>   @@n_of_Mytest
>  end
> end
> 
> puts Mytest.n_of_Mytest
> a = Mytest.new
> puts Mytest.n_of_Mytest
> b = Mytest.new
> c = Mytest.new
> puts Mytest.n_of_Mytest
> d = Mytest.new
> e = Mytest.new
> f = Mytest.new
> puts Mytest.n_of_Mytest
> 
>>>>>>Output >>>>>
> 
> 0
> 1
> 3
> 6
> 
>>>>>>End of Example >>>>>
> 
> 
> O.K.?
> 
> 

I've tested your code and I've been surprised that it actually worked. If I 
correctly understand the mechanism, it's like the class object and its instances 
are able to access class variables through '@@'. Undubitably, I know now why I 
couldn't get along with that feature.

Honestly, I largely prefer to think of classes as objects and use the class 
instance variables when I want to share variables between instances. Using '@@' 
doesn't seem reliable for me, as IMHO it violates some important OO principles, 
the kind that if not followed leads to very embarrassing problems.

Thanks for your help,
Lionel Thiry