From: Gabriel Dragffy <gabe@...>
Date: 2007-08-04T05:55:18+09:00
Subject: Re: Beginner's tutorial and poor attempt at classes


On 3 Aug 2007, at 19:21, dblack@rubypal.com wrote:
[...SNIP...]


>>>
>>>  def roll
>>>    self.number = rand(6) + 1
>>>  end
>>
>>
>> Have been rereading your example. Just wanted to ask why in the  
>> code just above did you use  "self.number"  which you changed from  
>> @number?
>>
>>
>>>
>>>  def number=(value)
>>>    if (1..6).include?(value)
>>>      @number = value
>>>    else
>>>      puts "A die has only six sides!"
>>>    end
>>>  end
>>> end
>>
>> and then here "@number" is used.. finding this a little confusing.  
>> Thanks again, for all your help.
>
> The number= method does some data checking, and if all is well it sets
> @number.  I don't want to set @number directly, because the checking
> won't happen.  I guess rand(6) + 1 is pretty safe, but still, since my
> setter method does more than just set @number, it's "polite" to go
> through that method instead of just setting @number.


Hi David

Thank you for your quick reply and help. I have to confess I'm being  
quite dumb about this, I still don't understand 100% why one should  
use self.number.... but I think that's something that I need to work  
on and all will become clear as I become more familiar with Ruby as a  
whole. I've bought on Amazon a book called Beginning Ruby, dunno if  
it's any good, but I should received it tomorrow (fingers crossed!)  
so I can study it over the weekend.

My full time job is a web programmer, I've got a couple of large  
projects coming up, and because my boss is cool I can use any  
language/framework I like. Naturally I've chosen Rails.... I hope to  
get my Ruby up to speed for this, and I'll be needing a good RoR  
book. I see that you yourself have authored some books. That's  
awesome! Do you think your rails books would fit my needs? Also, is  
there anywhere I can view several pages from it?


Best regards


Gabriel Dragffy

gabe@dragffy.com