From: dblack@... Date: 2007-03-08T07:31:37+09:00 Subject: Re: object_* and instance_* methods Hi -- On Thu, 8 Mar 2007, Trans wrote: >> Also, ! methods always come in pairs. That's >> not enforced by the language, of course, but it's the convention: the >> ! indicates the dangerous version of a pair of methods where there's >> also a non-dangerous version. Those three methods state clearly what >> they do in their names, and they don't occur in pairs, so it's not a ! >> situation. > > I think that's just a general occurance. Not a rule. In anycase > there's a good reason for a different type of "danger" --don't > override me! Well... we'd have an awful lot of !'s if it started meaning that :-) I've never heard Matz discuss the ! in a way that made it sound like he would use it outside of method pairs, and I'm still not sure what the purpose would be. It's not a language-level rule, but I think it's the intent behind the !. David -- Q. What is THE Ruby book for Rails developers? A. RUBY FOR RAILS by David A. Black (http://www.manning.com/black) (See what readers are saying! http://www.rubypal.com/r4rrevs.pdf) Q. Where can I get Ruby/Rails on-site training, consulting, coaching? A. Ruby Power and Light, LLC (http://www.rubypal.com)