From: ara.t.howard@...
Date: 2006-12-19T23:51:56+09:00
Subject: Re: Discovering the number of return arguments requested.

On Tue, 19 Dec 2006, Brad Phelan wrote:

> Is it possible ( and I think not ) that you can discover if any return 
> arguments are requested when a method is called.
>
> Eg:
>
> def foo
>  if nargout == 1
>     "bar"
>  end
> end
>
> a = foo # nargout == 1
> foo     # nargout == 0
>
>
> This would be useful in certain patterns where you only want to
> create a return value and consequently a new object if it is
> actually required.

just build that pattern into your interface:

   harp:~ > cat a.rb
   def foo opts = {}
     dst = opts['dst'] || opts[:dst]
     dst << 'bar' unless dst.nil?
   end

   foo :dst => a='' # nargout == 1
   p a
   foo               # nargout == 0


   harp:~ > ruby a.rb
   "bar"

of course you could do alot more too.

-a
-- 
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