From: Michael H Buselli <busellim@...>
Date: 2002-04-23T08:49:10+09:00
Subject: Re: RCR: xx: yy as shorter notation for :xx => yy

"Rich Kilmer" said:

> def method(x=nil, y=nil, z=nil)
>   if x.kind_of? Hash
>     x,y,z = x[:x], x[:y], x[:z]
>   end
>   puts x, y, z
> end
> 
> 1) method(:x=>1, :z=>2)
> 2) method(1,2,3)
> 
> If you allowed a hash to be defined by: "key: value"
> 
> How would you distinguish between that dynamically building a hash (1
> above) and your keyword argument idea in (3 below)?
> 
> 3) method(x: 1, z: 2)

I like this:

3a)  method(x: 1, z: 2)      # keyword arguments
3b)  method({x: 1, z: 2})    # dynamically built hash

> I like the way that (1) dynamically builds a hash...it looks clean
> because you don't need the {} characters.

You can use #1, and let people who like #3b use that method.  I'd prefer
to have xx: yy be for keyword arguments if we only get to choose one or
the other, though.

--
Michael H. Buselli
Senior Network Systems Specialist            Abbott Laboratories
Email: busellim@pprd.abbott.com              D305H/AP9A-LL
Phone: 847-935-4624                          100 Abbott Park Road
Fax: 847-935-0142                            Abbott Park, IL  60064-3500