From: Yohanes Santoso Date: 2002-04-10T10:31:43+09:00 Subject: Re: Addition to file.c (File.extension) Michael Campbell writes: > --- Yukihiro Matsumoto wrote: > > Hi, > > > > In message "Addition to file.c (File.extension)" > > on 02/04/06, Mike Hall writes: > > > > |I added a File.extension method to file.c. > > > > I don't like the name "extension". It's too vague. > > Maybe "extname"? > > > With all due respect to Matz' wishes, I took in informal poll of my > peers at work and 100% of them said "extension" when asked: "In the > file name ``foo.bar'', or ``a.out'', what do you call the ``.bar'' > and ``.out'' part of the filename?" They had no idea WHY I was > asking, but without hesitation, "extension" or "file extension" was > the answer. This was about 6 people. 1970s: VMS engineer: hey, I found this really groovy way to type a file: just add .doc to your document, and .com to your executable. I call it filename extension. UNIX engineer: no need for that stinking thing. It's making the file content too easy to guess. Let's make it harder. Let's bury the executable indicator somewhere within the file mode. 1980s: Mac engineer: Those two bone-headed guys need to learn from me. I hereby christianise the resource-fork: a better extension than filename extension and oh, while we're at it, let's outdo the unix geek by making it more difficult to batch-change than batch-changing file modes. 1990s: Windows engineer: Huh? What? Duh... Let's call it a text file. How do I know it's a text file you said? Um... Oh, I have this super cool way: let's add .txt behind it. Old idea, Mr. Gates? From VMS, Mr. Gates? No idea what VMS is, but I know VMSOB. It's Very mean Son of a Bitch, sir. Yes, sir, I was just going to type up the patent but the computer's general decided to make an exceptional error. The point is, File.extension can mean different thing to different people, but Filename.extension can only mean one thing. So, I'm sure that what you and your co-worker meant was the extension to filename, not the extension to the file. Perhaps File#name#extension, or File#extname ? May be I got my history wrong. Correct me please. YS.