From: Tom Sawyer <transami@...>
Date: 2002-08-04T09:15:12+09:00
Subject: Re: Assoc Class (Hash Pairs)

On Sat, 2002-08-03 at 16:40, Hal E. Fulton wrote:
> Well, it's ordered, all right; but is it really a hash
> any more? E.g., could you still get this to work?
> 
>   z = ordhash['a']     # equals 1
> 
> Not without changing the [] method of Array. And if you
> change it in such a way, you're making Array into Hash.

no, not exactly. it's still array. you'd have to say: 

  z = ordhash[0]['a']

or

  z = ordhash[0].value

although it may not be out of the question to give Array a little more
smarts to do what you are suggesting. then certainly this would supplant
the regualar Hash class.

also i have a notion that these associations may actually be useful on
their own.

  a = 'A'=>'The Letter A'
  b = 'B'=>'The Letter B'
  c = 'C'=>'The Letter C'

  puts a.index              # --> A
  puts b.value              # --> The Letter B

  puts a['A']               # --> The Letter A
  puts c['The Letter C']    # --> C

but as for being especially useful? who knows what others might dream
up. i could use it for complex hierarchies. someone else might find
another use.

taking it a bit further, i realize i'm also leaning toward something
more. sort of an alternative to assingment:

  a = 'A'
  b = 'The Letter A'

  a => b

  puts a.assoc  # -->  The Letter A

thus having a way to association objects to one another, sort of like
having varaible variable names.

just thinking out loud at this point.

-- 
~transami