From: timr <timrandg@...>
Date: 2008-09-01T15:19:47+09:00
Subject: Re: Another Chris Pine Tutorial Question

On Aug 30, 1:55 pm, danielj <sleepingind...@gmail.com> wrote:
>  Let's write a program which asks us to type in as many words as we
> want (one word per line, continuing until we just press Enter on an
> empty line), and which then repeats the words back to us in
> alphabetical order. OK?
>
> So... first we'll—uh... um... hmmm... Well, we could—er... um...
>
> You know, I don't think we can do it. We need a way to store an
> unknown amount of words, and how to keep track of them all together,
> so they don't get mixed up with other variables. We need to put them
> in some sort of a list. We need arrays.
> puts "Let's make a shopping list!"
>
> shoplist = []
>
> while shoplist.last != ''
>
> shoplist.push(gets.downcase.chomp)
>
> end
>
> shoplist.pop
>
> puts shoplist.sort
>
> The program asks for one word per line but there is no way one can do
> that utilizing the methods the tutorial has expounded upon up to this
> point so I settled for what I got here.
>
> However, it asks you to then do this:
>
> • Try writing the above program without using the sort method. A large
> part of programming is solving problems, so get all the practice you
> can!
>
> Could somebody point me in the right direction, or give me an example
> of how that would be possible? I'm racking my brain but I can not
> think of a way to do it without using methods and tools that you are
> not yet supposed to use at this point in the tutorial (i.e. regex)

words = []
loop do                   #loop allows one to do an indefinite amount
of something--must set an exit
                          #inside of the loop.
incoming = gets
if incoming == "\n" then  #if a blank line is entered, we are done.
Sort and puts the list.
  puts words.sort
  exit
else
  words << incoming       #if data is entered, add it to the array of
words.
end
end

#=>
alphabet soup
bananas
coca cola
hot dogs
kool aid
lettuce
milk
potatoes
spinach
sugar

Tim Rand