From: David Alan Black <dblack@...>
Date: 2002-08-02T02:03:43+09:00
Subject: Re: Syntax proposal

Hi --

On Fri, 2 Aug 2002, Thomas Hurst wrote:

> * Massimiliano Mirra (list@NOSPAMchromatic-harp.com) wrote:
>
> > On Wed, Jul 31, 2002 at 01:53:37AM +0900, ts wrote:
> > >        FileTest.directory?(dir) and raise "Directory #{dir} already
> > >        exits"
>
> > My mind has trouble parsing it, though; it goes `well, this and that
> > what?'
>
> Ruby isn't trying to recreate English here.  Try to think more in terms
> of logical shortcutting so you naturally see that the raise doesn't
> get evaluated if the first expression evaluates to false.

We do have logical shortcutting somewhat of this kind in English:

  One step closer and you're dead.

So it's sort of like:

  I find out you're a directory and there'll be trouble.

:-)


David

-- 
David Alan Black
home: dblack@candle.superlink.net
work: blackdav@shu.edu
Web:  http://pirate.shu.edu/~blackdav