From: Sam Kong <sam.s.kong@...>
Date: 2005-07-27T02:55:59+09:00
Subject: Re: Trying to understand symbols

Hi, Jim!

Jim Weirich wrote:
> On Tuesday 26 July 2005 11:36 am, Sam Kong wrote:
> > May I think that symbols exist in Ruby becuase Ruby's strings are not
> > immutable?
> > Python, Java, and C# don't have symbols as far as I know.
> > Is it because their strings are immutable?
>
> Not really.  Strings are used because of their content, immutable or not.
> Symbols are used because they uniquely define a single object.
>
> If you know lisp, then we can say that Ruby symbols are like Lisp atoms.  If
> you don't know Lisp, then learn it first, then we can say that Ruby symbols
> are like Lisp atoms.  ;)

Yeah. I've been reading 'Hackers and Painters' written by Paul Graham
who thinks Lisp is the best language.
I will check Lisp out some day.
Thanks.

Sam