From: Yohanes Santoso <ysantoso@...>
Date: 2002-12-01T05:37:04+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby Document

"Shannon Fang" <xrfang@hotmail.com> writes:

> Can I omit this ::? Is it valid to omit it? or it has a "namespace"
> impact? When should I use :: at top level?

If you're not inside any namespace, then Net::XX and ::Net::XX means
 the same thing. However, if you are inside another namespace, let say
 you are inside module A, then Net::XX really means A::Net::XX if such
 thing is valid, or Net::XX if there is no A::Net::X. Because of this
 ambiguity, you can specify ::Net::X as the absolute namespace to
 choose.

> What is a symbol? what is the difference between symbol and variable?

If you're familiar with C, symbol is enum on steroid. Its primary
usage is as a constant for user program.

action=:sleep
if action == :sleep then ... end
:sleep.to_s ==> "sleep"

> Can you tell me where in the document I can find the usage of symbole
> and :name notation?

The section "Ruby Language" in the pickaxe book is a good reference
that you may be looking for.

> 
> >S> - def HTTP.get( addr, path, port = nil )
> >S> Q: difference between HTTP.get and HTTP#get? I vaguely know there are a
> >S> notation of class method and instance method, but which is  which? and
> >
> >  HTTP::get is a class method
> It seems HTTP#get is a class method? or if not? what is the symbol #
> mean, in method definition?

HTTP.get ---> get is a class/module method of HTTP
HTTP#get ---> get is an instance method of class HTTP (get is a method
of an object of type HTTP)


YS.