From: Josh Cheek <josh.cheek@...>
Date: 2010-12-09T23:52:00+09:00
Subject: Re: Convetion regarding accessing attributes (from within instance methods).

--00163631053f3412560496fb6199
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Thu, Dec 9, 2010 at 8:12 AM, Kedar Mhaswade <kedar.mhaswade@gmail.com>wrote:

> I observed that once I have defined attr_accessor for an attribute of a
> class, I can access it with or without an '@' leading the name of
> attribute (i.e. both [1] and [2] work correctly).
>
> I find accessing it without leading '@' more natural (when there are no
> conflicts with local variables).
>
> What is the Ruby community convention in this regard?
>
> Regards,
> Kedar
>
> [1]
> #!/usr/bin/env ruby
> class Car
>  attr_accessor :color
>    def initialize(color)
>      @color = color
>    end
>
>  def print_color
>    puts @color
>  end
> end
>
> c = Car.new("blue")
> c.print_color
>
> [2]
> #!/usr/bin/env ruby
> class Car
>  attr_accessor :color
>    def initialize(color)
>      @color = color
>    end
>
>  def print_color
>    puts color
>  end
> end
>
> c = Car.new("blue")
> c.print_color
>
> --
> Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
>
>
I prefer the latter (2). Also, in the latter "@color = color" can be
rewritten to use the setter with "self.color = color"

There are prominent people who prefer the former (1), though. To do them
justice, here is a previous exchange on the topic:


Here I explain why I prefer using the accessor to access the instance
variable.
http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/211544#919532

Rick summarizes Kent Beck's arguments for direct instance variable access
(in Smalltalk)
http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/211544#919648

I ask whether Kent would have the same position in Ruby, since I felt it
addressed most of his points
http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/211544#919728

Rick asks him, and he does
http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/211544#920235

--00163631053f3412560496fb6199--