From: Rick DeNatale <rick.denatale@...>
Date: 2007-05-10T05:43:17+09:00
Subject: Re: Funny doc for setter

On 5/8/07, Ken Bloom <kbloom@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 06 May 2007 01:56:18 +0900, John Joyce wrote:
>
> > Is it just me or is this funny?
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------------- Object#instance_variable_set
> >       obj.instance_variable_set(symbol, obj)    => obj
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >       Sets the instance variable names by _symbol_ to _object_, thereby
> >       frustrating the efforts of the class's author to attempt to
> > provide
> >       proper encapsulation. The variable did not have to exist prior to
> >       this call.
>
> Yeah, but it doesn't expose anything that didn't already exist in Ruby.
> If the function didn't exist, you could write it yourself:
>
> class Object
>   def instance_variable_set symbol, obj
>     eval "@#{symbol}=obj"
>   end
> end

Ahh, but it's a subtle reminder that even if something is possible one
shouldn't always do it, at least without thought to the consequences.

-- 
Rick DeNatale

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