From: grom_3@... (grom)
Date: 2004-01-25T15:09:58+09:00
Subject: Keyword arguments in Ruby

Is it possbile for Ruby to have keyword arguments added in like in
Python.

Quote from Python documentation:

4.7.2 Keyword Arguments 
Functions can also be called using keyword arguments of the form
"keyword = value". For instance, the following function:

def parrot(voltage, state='a stiff', action='voom', type='Norwegian
Blue'):
    print "-- This parrot wouldn't", action,
    print "if you put", voltage, "Volts through it."
    print "-- Lovely plumage, the", type
    print "-- It's", state, "!"

could be called in any of the following ways: 

parrot(1000)
parrot(action = 'VOOOOOM', voltage = 1000000)
parrot('a thousand', state = 'pushing up the daisies')
parrot('a million', 'bereft of life', 'jump')

but the following calls would all be invalid: 

parrot()                     # required argument missing
parrot(voltage=5.0, 'dead')  # non-keyword argument following keyword
parrot(110, voltage=220)     # duplicate value for argument
parrot(actor='John Cleese')  # unknown keyword