From: Gavin Sinclair <gsinclair@...>
Date: 2003-01-28T09:55:59+09:00
Subject: Parsing: x = y || raise "error"

I more or less commonly use the following idiom (taken from recent
code):

  dir = ARGV.shift || raise "Require directory argument"

Then I find that it fails:

  /home/gavin/bin/ckcr:3: parse error
  /home/gavin/bin/ckcr:3: warning: useless use of a literal in void context

This fixes it:

  dir = ARGV.shift || raise("Require directory argument")

Can anyone explain why the parentheses are required?  Not a critical
error or anything.  I've just always wanted to know but been afraid to
ask.

Regards,
Gavin