From: Hal Fulton <hal9000@...>
Date: 2005-06-03T09:45:16+09:00
Subject: Re: Method Chaining Issues

Logan Capaldo wrote:
> On 6/1/05, Hal Fulton <hal9000@hypermetrics.com> wrote:
> 
>>
>>The ! usually (not always) indicates that a method changes its
>>receiver "in place" rather than creating a new object as a result.
> 
> 
> Just curious, can you give me an example of a bang method that doesn't
> modify the
> receiver in place?
> 

The only one in the core is exit! as far as I know.

Some things like Kernel#chomp! have an implicit receiver,
so they don't really make my point.

There may be others in the std lib or other common libs,
I don't know.

The point is that the ! is to mark a method as "dangerous"
or "requiring caution."

I certainly use it in my own code in situations where it doesn't
change the receiver. In fact, I encourage others to do the
same, as it helps dispel the minor misconception. Just my
opinion.


Hal