From: Lionel Thiry <lthiryidontwantspam@...>
Date: 2005-05-07T00:34:29+09:00
Subject: Re: What sound does no duck make?

John Carter a �crit :
> Imagine a flock of ducks in the sky. Listen.
> Now remove the ducks. Listen.
> 
> What is the sound of no duck quacking?
> 
> What should nil respond_to?
> 
> 
> 
> John Carter 

class Duck
  def initialize(name)
   @name = name
  end
  def quack
   puts "#{@name} quacks!"
  end
end

# imagine a flock of duck in the sky
duck_flock = [Duck.new("redhead"), Duck.new("mallard"), Duck.new("some duck")]

# listen
duck_flock.each do |duck|
  duck.quack
end

# now remove the ducks
duck_flock.clear

# listen
duck_flock.each do |duck|
  duck.quack
end

# what should nil respond to?
if duck_flock.empty?
  puts "there are no nil's, what are you talking about?"
end

PS: you have read Head First Design Pattern didn't you? Good book, isn't it? But 
it seems you missed page 598.

-- 
Lionel Thiry

Personal website: http://users.skynet.be/lthiry/