From: Mark Slagell <ms@...>
Date: 2000-08-28T01:52:53+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:4610] Re: Class methods

a = File.readlines("a",nil).join, sure.

What I'm getting at is: it seems to fit well with the least-surprise
principle, to allow an instance method not requiring arguments to be invoked
as a class method with an argument acceptable to "new", resulting always in
operation on a transitory instance.  It does seem to buy unambiguous
expressive power (the File class already does this with some methods), and
what I wonder is whether it really costs anything to apply it more generally.

  Mark


ts wrote:

> ...
>  You can write
>
>  a, = File.readlines("a", nil)
>
>  perhaps there are other way to do it ?
>
> Guy Decoux