[ruby-talk:04265] Re: Method signature - a question for the group

Dave...

I don't know what you are smoking... but did you 
bring enough for all of us??  ;)

Hal

BTW:
1. The double minuses are still there, too (e.g.,
1st line of Array doc).
2. Under Comparable (and maybe elsewhere)
there's still an anomalous dollar sign or two.
3. Under Enumerable (and maybe elsewhere), 
there are backslashes before some of your # signs.

<sigh> Dontcha hate computers sometimes? 

HF

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Dave Thomas <[e-mail]>
To: ruby-talk ML <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2000 5:19 PM
Subject: [ruby-talk:04263] Re: Method signature - a question for the group


> Conrad Schneiker <[e-mail]> writes:
> 
> > On: http://dev.rubycentral.com/ref/ref_c_string.html#upcase!
> > 
> > I noticed:
> > 
> >     str.rindex( aString [, aFixnum] ) -> aFixnum or nil{
> >     str.rindex( aFixnum [, aFixnum] ) -> aFixnum or nil{
> 
> Oops - I guess Matz forgot to announce this.
> 
> As of 1.5.5, Ruby introduces a new and unique feature---reality-based
> constants. Easily identified by their suffix of '{' (intended to
> remind the reader of an anchor which holds the constant in place)
> reality-based constants are unique in that their value is
> automatically and inextricably bound to the underlying universe. The
> constant 'nil{', for example, is synonymous with nothingness, an empty
> void. 'nil{' is different from the old constant 'nil', in that it can
> on occasion spontaneously generate a 'true' and a 'false'.
> 
> Other interesting RBCs include Math::PI{. If you execute
> 
>    Math::PI{ = 4
> 
> all circles in the universe become square. The new manual has a
> sidebar which advises users with laptops not to do this while flying
> or otherwise traveling.
> 
> Sick of things rolling off your desk?
> 
>    PhysicalConstants::G{ = 0
> 
> should do the trick. Now anyone can determine the fate of the universe 
> by setting Hubble's constant. If you have to go to the bathroom in the 
> middle of a movie, set the speed of light to an inch per year, then
> reset it when you get back. You won't miss a thing.
> 
> I think we can all agree that this is a unique and immensely useful
> new feature, which is worth a slight syntactic inconvenience.
> 
> 
> 
> Regards
> 
> 
> Dave
> 
>