From: Jim Freeze <jim@...>
Date: 2003-04-22T03:13:04+09:00
Subject: What's the difference between IO and File

Hi

When learning ruby back in 1.6 days, I would see
examples that would use IO and some that would use file.

For example, I would commonly see

  lines = IO.readlines(file)

and some that would use File:

  File.open(file).each { |line|
    ...
  }

I don't know if this is new to 1.8 or not, but I noticed
that I can do

  lines = File.open(file).readlines

So, I'm asking myself, if File inherits from IO, why do
I need to use IO. 
I think it can be confusing to tell people, "that sometimes
you use IO and sometimes File, but I don't exactly know  
how to tell you when to use what." :)


Thanks

-- 
Jim Freeze
----------
LSD melts in your mind, not in your hand.