From: Robert Klemme <shortcutter@...>
Date: 2013-04-12T20:41:25+09:00
Subject: Re: using an instance variable inside a method

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On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 10:37 AM, Ryan Davis <ryand-ruby@zenspider.com>wrote:

>
> On Apr 11, 2013, at 21:38 , Matthew Kerwin <lists@ruby-forum.com> wrote:
>
> > * note: it also defines a method called `p=` which assigns to `@p`, so
> > you can use `p = []` instead of `@p = []` if you want. C.f. attr_reader
> > and attr_writer
>
> No. you can use `self.p = []`, not `p = []`. That's the gotcha because the
> latter is treated as a local variable assign.
>

One more remark: it's probably not too good to name an attribute "p"
because the accessor will hide method "p" which is used for debug printing.
 Also, the name "p" doesn't really reveal any semantics.  I usually
restrict those names to internal use only but use more telling names for
public APIs.

Kind regards

robert

-- 
remember.guy do |as, often| as.you_can - without end
http://blog.rubybestpractices.com/

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><br><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><br><div class=3D"gmail=
_quote">On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 10:37 AM, Ryan Davis <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;=
<a href=3D"mailto:ryand-ruby@zenspider.com" target=3D"_blank">ryand-ruby@ze=
nspider.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div class=3D"im"><br>
On Apr 11, 2013, at 21:38 , Matthew Kerwin &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:lists@ruby=
-forum.com">lists@ruby-forum.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
<br>
&gt; * note: it also defines a method called `p=3D` which assigns to `@p`, =
so<br>
&gt; you can use `p =3D []` instead of `@p =3D []` if you want. C.f. attr_r=
eader<br>
&gt; and attr_writer<br>
<br>
</div>No. you can use `self.p =3D []`, not `p =3D []`. That&#39;s the gotch=
a because the latter is treated as a local variable assign.<br></blockquote=
></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br></div>One more remark: it&#39;s proba=
bly not too good to name an attribute &quot;p&quot; because the accessor wi=
ll hide method &quot;p&quot; which is used for debug printing. =A0Also, the=
 name &quot;p&quot; doesn&#39;t really reveal any semantics. =A0I usually r=
estrict those names to internal use only but use more telling names for pub=
lic APIs.</div>
<div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra">Kind regard=
s</div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra">robe=
rt<br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br>remember.guy do |as, often| as.yo=
u_can - without end<br>
<a href=3D"http://blog.rubybestpractices.com/">http://blog.rubybestpractice=
s.com/</a>
</div></div>

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