From: Bob Hutchison <hutch-lists@...>
Date: 2012-09-02T21:20:54+09:00
Subject: Re: Constructor or a Method


On 2012-09-01, at 2:46 PM, Brian Candler <lists@ruby-forum.com> wrote:

> Bob Hutchison wrote in post #1074214:
>> You've got a terminology thing going on and this is confusing you I
>> think. There are no such thing as 'properties' in Ruby (google it and
>> you can read about the magical healing properties of the ruby gemstone
>> :-)
>> 
>> Generally speaking you've got attributes and methods.
> 
> IMO it would be clearer and more accurate to say "instance variables" 
> and "methods", but otherwise this is correct.

Could be, but since the shortcuts use 'attr_' I went with 'attribute'. It's a point-of-view thing: public vs internal. 'Instance variable' is an internal thing, even an implementation thing. 'Attribute' is a public thing, even a conceptual thing.

Which reminds me. I wanted to mention something about constructors. But I won't. That'd just be opening up a can of worms. I'm glad I forgot. I'll recommend the OP gets a decent book on Ruby that explains all this systematically. Personally I like David Black's "The Well Grounded Rubyist" from Manning.

Cheers,
Bob