From: 7stud -- <lists@...>
Date: 2012-12-24T19:19:06+09:00
Subject: Re: POLS and string-handling

Paul Magnussen wrote in post #1090050:
> Thanks for all the replies.  I notice also that I can force changing of
> the value (as opposed to the reference) by substituting a trivial
> expression for the right-hand side of the assignment
>

Incorrect.

x = "hello"
y = x + ""

puts x.object_id
puts y.object_id

--output:--
2152313980
2152313940


The + operator up there is the name of a String method in ruby:

x = "hello"
y = x.+("")

puts x.object_id
puts y.object_id

--output:--
2152313980
2152313940

You are going to have to get used to the fact that:

1) Strings are mutable in ruby.
2) Some methods in the String class mutate their "receiver"(i.e. the 
object that called the method), and others methods in the String class 
return a new String object.  If you are not sure how a method operates, 
then check the docs:

http://www.ruby-doc.org/core-1.9.3/String.html#method-i-2B

Writing something like the following to create a new String object:

y = x + ""

works, but it is code obfuscation at its worst.  Ruby methods usually 
have names that are descriptive and alert the reader what they do--use 
them.

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