From: Ross Bamford <rossrt@...>
Date: 2006-05-02T09:45:56+09:00
Subject: Re: from block to code (also: how to get the bindings of a block)

On Tue, 2006-05-02 at 09:27 +0900, chiaro scuro wrote:
> Not sure about the ATs. even if I don't mind them that much... if I unfocus
> my eyes they look like bullet points ;-)
> 
> I have got this one working.. see if you can guess how..
> 
> recipe "eggs and bacon" do
>   eggs = [2,:big]
>   bacon = 3
> the end
> 
> I posted my solution here:
> http://liquiddevelopment.blogspot.com/2006/04/way-of-meta-part-iv-hijacking-local.html
> 

Without looking, I'd guess def the; binding; end ? (Quick look, done
with alias, same difference I guess).

It's a clever solution but it'd make the DSL sound a bit whimsical for
my taste. Plus, I'd be either forgetting to put 'the' or resenting that
I had to... :)

Also, I think it might give unexpected results in some situations, e.g:

some_other_var = :oops

shopping_list "english breakfast" do
  tomatoes = 2, :green
  sausages = 3
  eggs = 2, :big
  bacon = 4
the end

shopping_list "banana milkshake" do
  milk = 1
  bananas = 2
the end

Gives output:

to make english breakfast you should buy:
 * 2 green tomatoes
 * 3 sausages
 * oops some_other_var
 * 4 bacon
 * 2 big eggs

to make banana milkshake you should buy:
 * 2 bananas
 * 1 milk
 * oops some_other_var

Granted in a DSL this is less likely to occur, but guaranteed to leave
users scratching their heads if (when?) it does. Generally I prefer if I
can preserve normal, predictable behaviour for those times when you (or
some power user of your system) might need it.

-- 
Ross Bamford - rosco@roscopeco.REMOVE.co.uk