From: Mark Hubbart <discordantus@...>
Date: 2005-10-26T07:42:57+09:00
Subject: Re: Implicit block argument

On 10/25/05, Edward Faulkner <ef@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 26, 2005 at 04:17:46AM +0900, Dominik Bathon wrote:
> > I would like to propose a shortcut for block arguments (the magic block
> > argument ;-)
>
> <snip>
>
> > I am not sure about the @ sign, other possibilities might be $ or $ plus
> > something or something completely different, it should just be short.
>
> Since the function of such a variable is to act as a pronoun, it makes
> more readable code if you name it "it":
>
> my_array.each { print it }
>
> I first saw this idea in the proposal for Arc.
>
> > And nobody would be forced to use it, it would be completely optional,
> > just an alternative.
>
> This is not a good argument, because reading is as important (or more
> important!) than writing.  If someone chooses to write it, everyone
> needs to be able to read it, whether they like it or not.

Which has already been fully discussed (disgust?) in the (in)famous
"mouse poop sandwich" thread [1] from around this time last year.

cheers,
Mark

[1] http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.ruby/browse_frm/thread/ca3be493eec94ab1