From: Peter Zotov <whitequark@...>
Date: 2012-06-07T11:21:05+09:00
Subject: Re: "Create a rock paper scissors program in ruby WITHOUT using conditionals"

Ryan Davis писал 07.06.2012 05:24:
> On Jun 6, 2012, at 15:54 , Peter Zotov wrote:
>
>> Instead of this:
>>
>>  if arg == "a"
>>    1
>>  elsif arg == "b"
>>    2
>>  end
>>
>> ... you can use:
>>
>>  { "a" => 1, "b" => 2 }[arg]
>>
>> I leave the rest to your imagination.
>
> I think this is too limiting / not mind-expanding enough...
>
> I suggest looking at how smalltalk does branching (conditionals, 
> loops, etc).

Oh, what an amazing idea.

def true.ex(a, b)
   a.()
end

def false.ex(a, b)
   b.()
end

(arg == "a").ex(-> {
   puts "arg is a"
}, -> {
   puts "arg isn't a"
})

I leave the task of explaining this (and its origins) to your professor 
to
yourself. Also, google for "church numerals" and "lambda calculus"--you 
won't
be disappointed! :D

-- 
   WBR, Peter Zotov.