From: Louis J Scoras <louis.j.scoras@...>
Date: 2006-05-09T05:44:54+09:00
Subject: Modifying Hash Default Value

Don't do this...This one bit me hard =)

    hash = Hash.new( [ ] )
    hash[:new_key] << 3

    hash.length             # => 0 ouch
    hash.keys                # => [ ] doh!

    # this why this was painful...
    hash[:new_key] # => [ 3 ]

    hash[:another_key] # => [ 3 ]

So anyway, is there no way to have this do what I mean? or do I have
to initialize it seperately?

    hash[:new_key] ||= [ ]
    hash[:new_key] << 3

I'm having a total mental lapse, but I know using the block form won't
help either, i.e.:

    hash = Hash.new { [ ] }

Any thoughts?


--
Lou