From: Trans <transfire@...>
Date: 2006-03-15T10:08:45+09:00
Subject: Re: Alternate notation for eigenclass

> class SomeConstant < some_expression
> end

That's a good point. But we should be clear. First, this is only
ambiguious for constants. Moreover, the above is equivalent to
redefining the value of the constant. I.e.

  SomeConstant = Class.new(some_expression)

So it would not matter anyway --in other words, using a superclass is
pointless when reopening a pre-existent class, so this statement must
be defining a class called SomeConstant. There's really no ambiguity.

The only ambiguity left then is when trying to reopen pre-existent
class (hence no superclass given), singleton or not.

  SomeConstant = Class.new
  class SomeConstant
  end

But here again is it really ambigious? Obviously Ruby can see the
constant is already defined. Therefore this is obviously not trying to
define a new class and the constant should indeed be evaluated --sure
enough it reference a class. Again no ambiguity.

At first glance it seems like a problem. But upon deeper inspection
there doesn't seem to be one.

T.