From: David Garamond <lists@...6.isreserved.com>
Date: 2004-02-26T18:55:12+09:00
Subject: Why don't $global and @instance variables need declaration?

Sorry if the answer is obvious, but I can't find a satisfactory or more 
verbose explanation about this. The only thing I found is from the 
Ruby's User Guide:

"As with globals, instance variables have the nil value until they are 
initialized. Instance variables of ruby do not need declaration. This 
implies a flexible structure of objects. In fact, each instance variable 
is dynamically appended to an object when it is first referenced."

Could someone explain the above? How is it more flexible? Also, how do 
we differentiate between an unitialized global/instance variable and a 
variable that has explicitly been set to 'nil'?

-- 
dave