From: Corey Konrad <0011@...>
Date: 2007-03-16T10:15:56+09:00
Subject: Re: to_a

Ash wrote:
> On Mar 15, 8:33 pm, Corey Konrad <0...@hush.com> wrote:
>> > The issue isn't with the parentheses, but with the behavior of the
>> > array = 1..8
>> --
>> Posted viahttp://www.ruby-forum.com/.
> 
> You're getting closer.  It's correct that #to_a does not transform the
> range into an array.  In Ruby, methods that change the object they're
> called on are usually marked with a !, like #sort! on Array (sorts the
> array in place) or #capitalize! on String (uppercases the first letter
> in place).  Otherwise you can usually expect to get a new object back.
> 
> Here's a snippet that uses () to build the array but still doesn't
> work:
> 
> array = (1..8)    # Create a Range object, give it the name "array"
> array.to_a        # Call the method "to_a" on the Range, get back an
> Array, but
>                   # don't put it anywhere
> puts array[1]     # Message not understood, because "array" is the
> original Range.
> 
> It just occurred to me that you might also be confused about what's
> happening in the
> first line of your working example.
> 
> array = (1..8).to_a
> 
> The assignment to "array" is done _last_.  So this reads as "Create a
> new Range from 1 to 8, send it the message 'to_a', then store the
> result of all of that in 'array'", not "Create a new Range from 1 to
> 8, store that in 'array', then send it the message 'to_a'".
> 
> Just out of curiosity, is this your first programming language, or if
> not what is your background?  The issues you're encountering are
> things that you'll run into in many languages, Ruby just isn't quite
> as verbose in having them :-)

My background i have a degree in computer information systems and have 
been studying things like this for going on 4 years now, i got a 3.12 
gpa in school and i have studied the syntax of many languages but for 
some reason i just cant ever seem to get anywhere with it, its getting 
really frustrating and i am starting to think that maybe i am mentally 
retarded literally.

-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.