From: Paul Duncan <pabs@...>
Date: 2002-04-03T13:26:29+09:00
Subject: Re: rcr


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* repeater (repeater@lucentprimate.cjb.net) wrote:
> i've not used ruby for that long, but i've found the need to do the
> following rather often:
>=20
> [3, 2, 5, 2, 19].rand_item		# =3D> returns random item from array
>=20
> short code, but could be helpful to others (needed it in all of my last
> projects, but perhaps i'm just strange)

Were you asking for code to return a random element, or saying you have
code that returns a random element?  If it's the latter, here's a=20
quick answer:

--
class Array
  def rand
    raise RuntimeError, 'Array#rand(): empty array' unless length > 0
    at Kernel::rand(length).floor
  end
end

# test Array#rand()
arr =3D %w(asdf hey matz ruby rocks test 123)
4.times { puts arr.rand }
[].rand
--

produces (for this particular run):
hey
matz
rocks
hey
=2E/array_random.rb:5:in `rand': Array#rand(): empty array (RuntimeError)
        from ./array_random.rb:15

> regards
> repeater

--=20
Paul Duncan <pabs@pablotron.org>        pabs on #gah (OPN IRC)
http://www.pablotron.org/               OpenPGP Key ID: 0x82C29562

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