From: William Djaja Tjokroaminata <billtj@...>
Date: 2002-04-12T05:36:37+09:00
Subject: How to Make a Method Ineffective Efficiently?

Hi,

I am having a problem regarding coding efficiency (both for the execution
time and for the typing itself).  Basically, I have a method that may or
may not print depending on a flag, such as

    ....
    def print_info (*text)
      if @debugging
        ....
        @file.write (text.join)
      end
    end

Originally, I have put the flag in the calling class itself, but it made
me typing the flag in too many places:

    ....
    print_info ("#{obj1} #{obj2} .... #{obj1000}") if @debugging #format A

(because in reality the flag or condition may not be that
short).  Therefore, just like in the first fragment of codes, I have put
the flag in the print_info method itself, so that I can simply write

    ....
    print_info ("#{obj1} #{obj2} .... #{obj1000}") #format B

and whether it actually prints or not is controlled by the flag in the
print_info, which I can control without having to type in too many places.

However, now I have a problem with execution efficiency.  With the last
format (format B), whether or not I actually print, the methods to_s of
obj1, ..., obj1000 are called.  The methods to_s themselves may be very
complicated.  In the first format (format A), the methods to_s are not
called at all if @debugging is equal to false.

I don't want to type "if @debugging" everywhere (they clutter the codes),
but I also want to have efficient execution, which in this case is
equivalent to if @debugging is false, then the print_info method is
ineffective, not even the passed arguments.  Is there any way I can
accomplish what I want easily?

(My current solution is to use format B, and try to minimize the argument
overhead, by minimizing the number of arguments and doing processing
inside the print_info method below the "if @debugging" line as much as
possible.)

Regards,

Bill