From: "Matthias Wächter" <matthias@...>
Date: 2007-09-13T01:06:01+09:00
Subject: Re: what is this syntax: \001\002 ?

On 12.09.2007 17:28, Rob Biedenharn wrote:
> On Sep 12, 2007, at 8:48 AM, Matthias Wächter wrote:
>> I can't understand why it is desirable to introduce yet another base
>> that is rarely used outside of chmod and od (without options). We
>> learned decimals, we got used to binary and even hex, but why do we
>> need octals just for these control characters when there is no
>> benefit compared to the hex representation (note: both take 4 chars
>> to display)?
> This is pure history.

Well, I understand that in history it was a popular format for
various reasons. But Ruby is now, and now we have 8 bit chars (aka
Bytes) and use hex nearly exclusively for them. Why not so in
String#inspect?

Or is the reason similar to the question why Float#to_s uses 15
instead of 17 significant bits to display? Pure convention? A (core)
developer rolling a dice somewhen? ;-)

- Matthias