From: joesb <joesb.coe9@...>
Date: 2006-02-06T04:53:20+09:00
Subject: Re: Indentation vs. "end"s


doug00@gmail.com wrote:
> Yes I really like the end statements, and they make it easier for
> beginners.  It's possible to support both indenting and end statements
> (i.e. support one mode or the other), and you don't need python's
> redundant and unnecessary colons.  I implemented this myself in a
> parser.  I don't think it is appropriate for ruby, however.
>
> What would be even better would be to allow optional labels after end
> statements, such as "end class", "end def", so the parser can catch
> more errors.
> I've implemented this as well in a separate project.

Instead of voting for multiple "end xxx", I would like to suggest that
more pairs/keyword than "do ... end" and "{ .. }" can be used to define
a block.

For examples:

begin ... end
is ... end
then ... end

Because sometimes, the correct word is not "do". For examples to define
mapping I'd like to do

Brain.learn :cooking is
  ...
end

rather having "do" there.
It also simplify many semantic in Ruby for example. defining
class/method could be viewed as a method that takes a block. But "do"
wouldn't  make sense there, but:

class Person is    #<<< just a method taking a block
    def say(message) is   #<<< Don't know :S
        ...
    end
end

It may make Ruby code reflect more closely to what I am thinking in
word.