From: Rick DeNatale <rick.denatale@...>
Date: 2007-03-02T06:23:00+09:00
Subject: Re: Why does String have to_str and Integer have to_int?

On 3/1/07, tsela.cg@gmail.com <tsela.cg@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 1, 8:49 pm, Eric Hodel <drbr...@segment7.net> wrote:
> >
> > Or
> >
> > #to_s means an object *has a* String representation
> >
> > and
> >
> > #to_str means on object *is a* String representation
>
> Great description! Thank you for summing up so well what I was trying
> to say. I'm not good at catchy descriptions.

Yes it's catchy, but

Is Exception really a string representation?


While the distinction here seems like it should be essential, it
appears to be somewhat accidental.

Some of these things seem to be to distinguish things which the
implementation wants rather than something inherent.  It reminds me of
the discussion some time ago of the new to_splat method as another
analog of to_a and to_ary. I never thought that there was a consensus
as to which objects should implement to_splat.

I hope this doesn't seem too harsh, it's really intended as an
observation rather than a criticism.

-- 
Rick DeNatale

My blog on Ruby
http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/