From: mouse_059 <kmouse@...>
Date: 2007-10-23T12:00:27+09:00
Subject: another (simple!) eval question!

greetings Rubyists,

Still trying to wrap my head around metaprogramming.

def analyze(args)
  # stuff
  # total is defined up here and is equal to some amount of seconds
elapsed (say 100,000)

  day, hour, min = 0, 0, 0
  loop do day += 1; total -= 86400; break if total < 0; end; day -= 1;
total += 86400
  loop do hour += 1; total -= 3600; break if total < 0; end; hour -=
1; total += 3600
  loop do min += 1; total -= 60; break if total < 0; end; min -= 1;
total += 60

  puts "your total is #{day} days, #{hour} hours, #{min} mins,
#{total} secs"
end

as you can see, i'd like to refactor that so i just have to
  dotime( :day, 86400 )
  dotime( :hour, 3600 )
  dotime( :min, 60 )             (i can hardcode 'total' in the
function, doesn't matter?)

But no eval I use works, either the eval isn't defined for my class
(assume main:Object) or I get "no method for + (nilpointer).  I read
about how you shouldn't use string eval, etc.  A simple pointer to
some help would be awesome!  Thanks guys.

PS, if a time function does this, don't spoil the metaprogramming for
me?  I'd like to learn anyway.  :)

-Mike