From: Jean-Julien Fleck <jeanjulien.fleck@...>
Date: 2010-05-12T06:11:24+09:00
Subject: Re: Super simple newbie Q about methods

Hello,

> Then you need to use instance variables such as '@i', or class variables
> such as '@@i'.  Ruby doesn't support the use of pointers (as far as I
> know at least).

I would say rather on the contrary. Everything is a pointer but you
can reassign a variable in a new pointing direction without affecting
the previously pointed object. See

>> def add(a,b)
>> a.replace(a+b)
>> end
=> nil
>> s = "string"
=> "string"
>> add(s,"_added")
=> "string_added"
>> s
=> "string_added"

Here, the add method does not reassign variable a but send a message
to the object where a is pointing, saying that it should change it's
value.
Of course, that would not work for a Fixnum, as those are immutable in ruby.

Cheers,


-- 
JJ Fleck
PCSI1 Lycée Kléber