From: ara.t.howard@...
Date: 2007-03-12T14:21:26+09:00
Subject: Re: #define alternative for Ruby

On Mon, 12 Mar 2007, Mike wrote:

>
> I was talking more about macros rather then constants.  But I agree that
> constant are convenient way to substitute "#define myconst 15". But can you
> substitute "#define myfunc(x) (sin(x)*cos(x)*exp(x))"?  You should know that
> "x" could be as much other functions as a constant/variable.
>

perhaps i'm being dense, but i fail to see how the above example is none other
than a simple function in ruby:

     harp:~ > cat a.rb
     def myfunc x
       Math.sin(x) * Math.cos(x) * Math.exp(x)
     end

     # x as function
     def x() 42 end
     p myfunc(x)

     # x as constant
     X = 42
     p myfunc(X)

     # x as variable
     x = 42
     p myfunc(x)


     harp:~ > ruby a.rb
     6.37609775534436e+17
     6.37609775534436e+17
     6.37609775534436e+17

text macros like the above are really only useful in static/strong typed
languages.  in ruby, they are rather meaningless.

regards.

-a
-- 
be kind whenever possible... it is always possible.
- the dalai lama