From: Yossef Mendelssohn <ymendel@...>
Date: 2010-11-26T13:54:57+09:00
Subject: Re: "<" method for array

On Nov 25, 10:49 pm, "Eva" <eva54...@sina.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I hate there is not a "<" method for array object.
> Since there is the "<<" for adding an element, why not have the "<" for truncating then filling up the array?
>
> I know I can write one:
>
> irb(main):009:0> class Array
> irb(main):010:1>   def <(a)
> irb(main):011:2>      clear
> irb(main):012:2>      self << a
> irb(main):013:2>   end
> irb(main):014:1> end
>
> But it's not that convenient when I want it.

That would surprise the hell out of me.

Established convention is that << is the "left shift" or "append"
operator, which will change the receiver. On the other hand, < is the
"less than" operator, which simply compares the receiver to the
argument, no change whatsoever.

You *can* redefine < to do whatever you want, but I'm not sure why you
would define it this way.


--
-yossef