# File.new ("write.txt", "w+") results in error **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [August 2, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-new-write-txt-w-results-in-error/192581 "2010-08-02T16:45:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/919ad9/32.png) [@VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/VMDD_TECH)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-new-write-txt-w-results-in-error/192581/1 "2010-08-02T16:45:50Z")
Hello everyone, I am new to Ruby. If there are spaces between new and (, then ruby 1.9.1p376 considers it a syntactical error. For example: File.new (“write.txt”, “w+”) =\> syntax error, unexpected ‘,’, expecting ‘)’ File.new (“write.txt”, “w+”) ^ …: syntax error, unexpected ‘)’, expecting $end Is this a ruby bug or is it a feature/quirk of ruby? By the way, if I write as File.new “write.txt”, “w+” File.new(“write2.txt”, “w+”) then there are no problem. Thanks, Binh ---
**Author:** ![VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/919ad9/32.png) [@VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/VMDD_TECH)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-new-write-txt-w-results-in-error/192581/2 "2010-08-03T05:16:18Z")
On 08/02/2010 07:45 AM, VMDD TECH wrote: > syntax error, unexpected ‘,’, expecting ‘)’ > then there are no problem. > > Thanks, > > Binh It’s not a bug. A comma-separated list inside of parentheses is just meaningless in Ruby, which is why you get a syntax error. Parentheses being “optional” for method calls is a feature, however. -Justin ---
**Author:** ![VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/919ad9/32.png) [@VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/VMDD_TECH)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-new-write-txt-w-results-in-error/192581/3 "2010-08-02T18:23:03Z")
When using ( spaces are not required in 1.8.7 the error is (irb):1: warning: don’t put space before argument parentheses In 1.9.2 SyntaxError: (irb):1: syntax error, unexpected ‘,’, expecting ‘)’ f = File.open (“l.txt”, “w+”) 1.9.2 appears the error is a little obscure… MANISH.local:jes [08-02] 0 517:17 (295.6 Mb) • ! irb irb(main):001:0\> f = File.open (“l.txt”, “w+”) (irb):1: warning: don’t put space before argument parentheses =\> #\ irb(main):002:0\> f = File.open(“l.txt”, “w+”) =\> #\ irb(main):003:0\> f.write("") =\> 13 irb(main):004:0\> f.close =\> nil irb(main):005:0\> exit MANISH.local:jes [08-02] 0 518:18 (295.6 Mb) • ! cat l.txt ---
**Author:** ![VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/919ad9/32.png) [@VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/VMDD_TECH)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 11:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-new-write-txt-w-results-in-error/192581/4 "2010-08-04T11:51:48Z")
Eugen C. wrote: > File.new (“write.txt”, “w+”) > > =\> > syntax error, unexpected ‘,’, expecting ‘)’ > File.new (“write.txt”, “w+”) > ^ > …: syntax error, unexpected ‘)’, expecting $end > > Is this a ruby bug or is it a feature/quirk of ruby? The latter, because in ruby the parentheses surrounding the argument list are optional. Consider the difference here: puts (2-3).abs ## means: puts((2-3).abs) puts(2-3).abs ## means: (puts(2-3)).abs [The latter fails, because puts returns nil, and nil.abs is not defined] So if you include a space, the parentheses are considered part of the first argument. If you don’t include a space, the parentheses are wrapping the argument list. In ruby 1.8, puts (2,3) ## accepted with warning puts (2,3).abs ## syntax error In ruby 1.9, they are both treated as a syntax error. ---
**Author:** ![VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/919ad9/32.png) [@VMDD\_TECH](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/VMDD_TECH)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-new-write-txt-w-results-in-error/192581/5 "2010-08-03T08:20:05Z")
Excerpt from The Ruby P.ming Language book: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- When you use parentheses in a method invocation, the opening parenthesis must immediately follow the method name, with no space.  This is because parentheses can be used around an argument list in a method invocation, and they can be used for grouping expressions. Consider the following two examples: ``` square(2+2)*2 # square(4)*2 = 16*2 = 32 square (2+2)*2 # square(4*2) = square(8) = 64 ``` In the first expression, the parentheses represent method invocation. In the second, they represent expression grouping. To reduce the potential for confusion, you should always use parentheses around a method invocation if any of the arguments use parentheses. The second expression would be written more clearly as: ``` square((2+2)*2) ``` ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Ruby 1.8.x interpreter issued an warning, in Ruby 1.9.y they decided to issue an error when interpreter encounters something like foo (args). ----- Eugen On 08/02/2010 05:45 PM, VMDD TECH wrote: > ``` > Hello everyone, > > I am new to Ruby. > > If there are spaces between new and (, then ruby 1.9.1p376 considers > it a syntactical error. For example: > > File.new (“write.txt”, “w+”) > > =\> > syntax error, unexpected ‘,’, expecting ‘)’ > File.new (“write.txt”, “w+”) > ^ > …: syntax error, unexpected ‘)’, expecting $end > > Is this a ruby bug or is it a feature/quirk of ruby? > > By the way, if I write as > File.new “write.txt”, “w+” > File.new(“write2.txt”, “w+”) > > then there are no problem. > > Thanks, > > Binh > ```