From: MonkeeSage <MonkeeSage@...>
Date: 2006-10-07T10:55:11+09:00
Subject: Re: What is the reason for this syntax?


Coding conventions (like where you place your braces in C) are
completely different from language syntax rules (like where parameters
to functions and blocks must be). You can code however you like *within
the bounds of the language syntax*. In C you can't write this, no
matter how much you like it:

printf "%s", "Hi" !

The C syntax requires parens for function invocation, and requires a
line to be terminated by a semi-colon, not an exclaimation mark. So by
all means, write your ruby code however you like it, but don't confuse
issues of coding convention with issues of syntaxis.

Coding convention:

if (blah.nil?) <- parens

if blah.nil? <- none


Syntax:

blah { block stuff } <- correct

blah < block stuff > <- invalid

blah
{ <- invalid (well, valid syntax, but taken as hash literal not method
block to #blah)
}

Regards,
Jordan