From: John Woods <jqwoods@...>
Date: 2007-10-12T14:39:03+09:00
Subject: Syntax error when redefining >> operator to take a block

I'm trying to redefine the >> operator for a particular class such that 
it takes a block as its argument. It works if I invoke the redifined >> 
operator using "." syntax, but causes a syntax error otherwise.

This code illustrates my problem:

class C
  def >>(&block)
    block.call("inside >>")
  end
end

c = C.new
c.>> { |x| puts x } # outputs "inside >>"
#c >> { |x| puts x } # syntax error, if uncommented

This is the syntax error reported:

test.rb:10: syntax error, unexpected '|', expecting '}'
c >> { |x| puts x }        # syntax error, if uncommented
        ^
test.rb:10: syntax error, unexpected tIDENTIFIER, expecting kDO or '{' 
or '('
c >> { |x| puts x }        # syntax error, if uncommented
                 ^

Any pointers? Thanks.