From: "Peña, Botp" <botp@...>
Date: 2008-05-30T10:16:45+09:00
Subject: Re: Strings, postgresql and gsub

From: Robert Klemme [mailto:shortcutter@googlemail.com] 
# 2008/5/29 Peña, Botp <botp@delmonte-phil.com>:
# > faq. try the block form for less headache.
# 
# ... and less performance.

by how much?

Benchmark.realtime{9999.times{s.gsub(/'/){"\\'"}}}
#=> 0.139999866485596
Benchmark.realtime{9999.times{s.gsub(/'/,"\\\\'")}}
#=> 0.108999967575073

# ... Proper escaping is the way to go.

yeh, while losing flexibility/easeofuse :(  that's what's giving me the headache (especially now that i have four eyes and my head's getting heavier. "Proper" is relative, pick one that works best for you :)

puts "\\\\'"
\\'
#=> nil
puts "\\'"
\'

i'd wish ruby2 would do

s.gsub(/'/)("\\'")
#=> "blah\\'blah"

ie, backreferences and company should use the more flexible block form

s.gsub(/'/){"\\'"}
#=> "blah\\'blah"

kind regards -botp