From: Robert Dober <robert.dober@...>
Date: 2007-02-17T16:46:49+09:00
Subject: Re: is it behaving strange ?

On 2/17/07, hemant <gethemant@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 2/17/07, Pe�a, Botp <botp@delmonte-phil.com> wrote:
> > fr: sur max [mailto:sur.max@gmail.com]
> > # definitely, it seems so natural using
> > # = *a,b
> >
> > indeed, as robert pointed out.
> > but the magic generally leans towards, producing (and thereby questioning) *a, like
> >
> > def x
> >   *a
> > end
> >
> > or
> >
> > def x
> >    1,2,3
> > end
> >
> > so what does *a produce, or 1,2,3? an array, a list, or an unarrayed array (to quote dblack)? those are just names, but what is it really, what are its properties/methods/etc?
> >
> > # and this gives the feel of ruby. isn't it  ?
> >
> > i'm not sure (because the magic tends to fall on hole, a cul de sac), maybe because i seldom use it, ... only matz knows.
>
> Take a look at these
>
> >> instruments = {'trombones' => 1, 'clarinets' => 2}
> >> p instruments.to_a
> [["trombones", 1], ["clarinets", 2]]
> >> p *instruments
> ["trombones", 1]
> ["clarinets", 2]
>
> Normally * uses to_a or to_ary, but certainly its more devious than it
> appears. And where exactly is this operator defined in ruby source
> tree? eval.c ?
>
>
>
>
> --
> gnufied
> -----------
> There was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs
> were at every doorstep, and every path was its tributary.
> http://people.inxsasia.com/~hemant
>
>

I really start to love Smalltalk's syntax more and more...
Maybe sometimes less is more.
Than OTOH what fun Quiz113 was!
But fun can be dangerous I guess :(

Cheers
Robert

-- 
We have not succeeded in answering all of our questions.
In fact, in some ways, we are more confused than ever.
But we feel we are confused on a higher level and about more important things.
-Anonymous