From: dblack@...
Date: 2003-01-11T06:38:42+09:00
Subject: Re: dot-equals method?

Hi --

On Sat, 11 Jan 2003, Chris Pine wrote:

> However, there is no `split!' method, nor could there ever be, since `split'
> is a string method returning an array.  That's what I like so much about the
> `.=' idea.

It doesn't make visual or semantic sense to me; it's neither clearly a
method call nor an assignment.  I guess the idea is that it's sort of
both... but I have trouble perceiving it that way.  For example:

  str.= upcase

What that looks like, to me, at most, is a kind of variant on:

  str = self.upcase

with '=' taking message/method syntax.

> If something like this were possible, it seems like we wouldn't even need
> the `!' methods anymore.  Well, I would never use them, but maybe other
> people still would if, for some reason, they wanted to change the object
> itself... like if other variables were referencing it or something... seems
> like kind of screwbally design to me, but what do I know?  :)

Well, yeah, changing the object itself is the point of the bang
methods :-)  I don't think the thing you're talking about has a bearing
on that; it seems to be more a kind of assignment shorthand.


David

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