From: dblack@...
Date: 2007-07-07T08:49:01+09:00
Subject: Re: ruby suggestion feedback

Hi --

On Sat, 7 Jul 2007, Roger Pack wrote:

> Hmm. I realize these have been discussed before, but... (terrible way to
> start a post, I know).
> I for one, being the terrible newbie I am, would like to suggest the
> following change to Ruby (like RCR it).
> Variable parameter assignment in function calls. (sorry)
> i.e. the following:
> function_x(3,4,failure=true,options=false)
>
> (by default, not using hashes).  This allows for more understandable
> code than
> function_x(3,4,true,true,1,true,false) # does anyone after 3 months
> remember what each of those MEANT? [note the true,false at the
> end--those were my "failure" and "options," from the first example].
> I'm not saying Ruby is bad, just that this would be better.
>
> Any thoughts?  Should I RCR it?

All this stuff (argument syntax and semantics, keyword arguments,
etc.) is very much on the radar already.  I don't think there's
anything to be gained by submitting an RCR for one particular version
of it.  In 1.9 you've got hash shortcuts and possibly other things
already coming:

   x(failure: true, options: false, ...)

(May not be a working example but that's the kind of thing.)


David

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