From: dave.burt@...
Date: 2005-05-06T14:09:26+09:00
Subject: Re: object reference handle (like perl's reference to scalar)

> Can someone give me an example of a time you need an extra level of
indirection?

A reference can sort of replace itself with another object.

An Integer is immutable, but a reference to an integer can be changed
to any other object.

a = [1, 2, 3].map {|i| i.ref }
a.each {|i|
  i[] = 5.1 if i == 2
end

Something analogous to the above might be better (clearer?) than #map
or #each_with_index in some cases.

This also could be used to increase the "mutability" of other objects.
IOs could become StringIOs. Instances of singleton classes could become
instances of normal classes.

class Ref
  def revert_type_to_class!
    __setobj__(__getobj__.dup)
  end
end

And then, how about a dynamic class reference (or other evil variable
constants)?

MyClass = Array.ref
#...
MyClass[] = Hash

Cheers,
Dave