From: Yohanes Santoso <ysantoso@...>
Date: 2002-11-09T11:47:28+09:00
Subject: Re: Lighting Rod

"Hal E. Fulton" <hal9000@hypermetrics.com> writes:

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Yohanes Santoso" <ysantoso@jenny-gnome.dyndns.org>
> To: "ruby-talk ML" <ruby-talk@ruby-lang.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 7:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Lighting Rod
> 
> 
> > > 1) Why magic variables?
> > 
> > Um... beneficial crufts? I think because they are already idioms.
> > I don't even know the other name for $? (check return status).
> 
> They're only idioms if you're used to Perl.

or shell scripting. But you're right, a ruby user shouldn't be expected to
have prior perl or shell scripting knowledge. Then, the only people
benefited by magic variables are people like me who are too lazy to
look up the proper name for $? :) (Ok... I'm looking it up now, I'm
also curious as to what it is called).

YS.