From: John Joyce <dangerwillrobinsondanger@...>
Date: 2007-11-02T04:12:43+09:00
Subject: Re: Can we define data types explicitly?


On Nov 1, 2007, at 1:47 PM, Sebastian Hungerecker wrote:

> Shuaib Zahda wrote:
>> After trying several ways of checking the data types of my input. I
>> found that the best method to be used is is_a? or kind_of? because it
>> returns true or false value. In my case, this is best.
>
> User input will always be a string until you convert it.
> user_input = gets
> user_input.is_a? Integer
> Will never be true - even if the user enters a number.
>

Oh really?! Perhaps if it comes from a keyboard and stdin, yes.
What about other input devices ??
Mouse, Joystick/joypad, Stylus, Light pen, other types of sensors  
(heat, pressure, wind speed...)
Changing input routines? There is no reason input could not be any  
other class in Ruby, including nil.