From: Tom Werner <pubsub@...>
Date: 2007-07-17T04:05:11+09:00
Subject: Re: The Pebble in the Ruby Shoe

matt neuburg wrote:
> Raphael Gillett <r.gillett@rational.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>   
>> The pebble in the Ruby shoe is the counter-intuitive use of indexing of
>> elements of arrays, strings, etc., from 0 to n-1 instead of the more
>> natural 1 to n
>>     
>
> But since Ruby lets you reach right in and override everything, couldn't
> you just change this in your own programs if you don't like it?
>
> m.
>   

This seems like a terrible idea. Part of learning a language is learning 
the ways that things are done in that language. If a coder starts 
rewriting basic methods because of some silly prejudice against 
zero-based indices, then that coder has just introduced a huge potential 
trap for anyone wanting to modify that code. Some seriously nasty bugs 
would almost certainly be introduced until the contributor realizes that 
their basic assumptions about the language have been changed. Rewriting 
functionality at that level should always be done with a very careful 
analysis of how those changes might impact other coders, and the code 
that other coders write.

Think before you reimplement.

Tom