From: Pieter Hugo <pieter@...>
Date: 2009-11-25T01:11:44+09:00
Subject: Re: Difference between << and += for Strings and Arrays. Bug?

Hi Guys

Thanks for the quick responses and insights. While I understand the 
issue now I must confess that it perturbs my 'least surprise' 
expectation. Why was it decided that '<<' should reference the original 
object but '+' should create a new object. When one works with a 
variable one shouldn't need to worry about what other stuff is being 
modified due to a unintentional reference? What other operators are 
doing this? I noticed that the '.pop' array method was also modifying 
the referenced array

a = [1,2]
b = a
b.pop

results in a and be being [1]

I worked around with

a = [1,2]
b = []
b += a
b.pop

Now b == [1] and a == [1,2], but its not as sleek. Is there maybe 
another way?
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