From: Kevin Smith <kevinbsmith@...>
Date: 2001-09-03T23:29:07+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:20778] Re: RCR: non-bang equivalent to []=

--- Tobias Reif <tobiasreif@pinkjuice.com> wrote:
> > a = ['h','o','u','s','e']
> > new_array = a.with('m',0)
> > p new_array # -> ['m','o','u','s','e']
> > 
> > or these (fragments can be combined freely):
> > change, change_value, change_one, change_item,
> change_element,
> > replace, replace_value, ...
> > 
> > (all plus ! version)
> 
> 
> What do others suggest?

Many of the Array methods are already bang-type methods,
even though they don't have the bang: clear, delete,
delete_at, delete_if, fill, pop, push, replace, shift,
unshift.

I keep thinking the name would have to be something like
copy_and_set. Anything that doesn't say copy, or clone,
just doesn't imply to me that it would make a copy. 

So, I just don't see the benefit of creating this shortcut
method, especially since I can't think of a time when I
have wanted it. 

However, I haven't found any easy way to deep-copy an
array. If that really doesn't already exist, I'd like to
see it added:

a = ['h','o','u','s','e']
new_array = a.clone # same as: new_array = [] + a
new_array[0] = 'm'
p a # -> ['h','o','u','s','e']
p new_array # -> ['m','o','u','s','e']

Kevin

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