From: Matthew Moss <matt@...>
Date: 2008-12-06T03:03:17+09:00
Subject: [QUIZ] AnsiString (#185)

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## AnsiString (#185)


_Quiz description provided by Transfire_

Make a subclass of String (or delegate) that tracks "embedded" ANSI  
codes along with the text. The class should add methods for wrapping  
the text in ANSI codes. Implement as much of the core String API as  
possible. So for example:

    s1 = AnsiString.new("Hi")
    s2 = AnsiString.new("there!)

    s1.red    # wrap text in red/escape ANSI codes
    s1.blue   # wrap text in blue/escape ANSI codes

    s3 = s1 + ' ' + s2  #=> New AnsiString
    s3.to_str           #=> "\e[31mHi\e[0m \e[34mthere!\e[0m"

I have an [ANSICode][1] module (it's in [Facets][2]) that you are  
welcome to provide for the ANSI backend, if desired. It is easy enough  
to use; the literal equivalent of the above would be:

    ANSICode.red('Hi') + ' ' + ANSICode.blue('there!')

Bonus points for being able to use ANSIStrings in a gsub block:

    ansi_string.gsub(pattern){ |s| s.red }


[1]: http://facets.rubyforge.org/doc/api/more/classes/ANSICode.html
[2]: http://facets.rubyforge.org/