From: Benoit Daloze <eregontp@...>
Date: 2011-01-18T10:55:16+09:00
Subject: Re: Obscure syntax error

On 17 January 2011 22:35, Ryan Davis <ryand-ruby@zenspider.com> wrote:
>
> On Jan 17, 2011, at 02:25 , Rolf Timmermans wrote:
>
>> x = nil
>> x "y"
>> #=> bar.rb:2:in `<main>': undefined method `x' for main:Object (NoMethodError)
>>
>> x = nil
>> x :y
>> #=> bar.rb:2: syntax error, unexpected ':', expecting $end
>
> I think the explanation is simple: you (most likely) found a bug in the parser.
>
> You should report this to ruby-core@

Hi,

Sorry, I already found it: http://redmine.ruby-lang.org/issues/show/3163

However, it seems to have re-appeared :(

Doing in a file:
p = 3
p :sym

Results in:
ruby 1.9.3dev (2010-12-28 trunk 30412) [x86_64-darwin10.5.0]
/Users/benoitdaloze/Desktop/test.rb:210: warning: `:' after local
variable is interpreted as binary operator
/Users/benoitdaloze/Desktop/test.rb:210: warning: even though it seems
like symbol literal
/Users/benoitdaloze/Desktop/test.rb:210: warning: possibly useless use
of a variable in void context
/Users/benoitdaloze/Desktop/test.rb:210: syntax error, unexpected ':',
expecting $end
p :sym
   ^

If I remember correctly, it worked with Nobu's patch. It must have
been reverted since.

Please post your ideas/suggestions about this bug, it is not so easy
with the operators.

So, for the record, the Symbol is not accepted because it is believed
as part of the ternary operator ? :