Is there an online reference for dollar ($) variables?

Ruby
1

Is there an online reference that describes all the Ruby $… variables?
Are there any search engines that allow you to search for something like
$: ? Is there anything in the Rdocs?

Personally, I’m very happy with the list of $… variables found in the
2nd edition of Ruby P.ming. However a few of my colleagues do not
have a copy of this book. While I try to avoid using them there are
times when it’s almost unavoidable. For example, I haven’t found any way
to append new directories to the Load Path $: within my Ruby code
(specifically my Rakefile).

Thanks,
Larry

2

On 9/1/07, Larry F. [email protected] wrote:

Thanks,
Larry

Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

I hate to break it you, but probably you are looking for :

ahoy zenspider… :slight_smile:

–
Let them talk of their oriental summer climes of everlasting
conservatories; give me the privilege of making my own summer with my
own coals.

http://blog.gnufied.org

3

something like

Thanks,
Larry

Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

The first version includes them, and is available online (and even as a
package for local installation in some distros). I believe the location
is
http://www.rubycentral.com/book/, though that seems currently down for
maintenance.

HTH,

Felix

4

On Aug 31, 8:24 pm, Larry F. [email protected] wrote:

Is there an online reference that describes all the Ruby $… variables?
Are there any search engines that allow you to search for something like
$: ? Is there anything in the Rdocs?

http://phrogz.net/ProgrammingRuby/language.html#predefinedvariables

5

Le samedi 01 septembre 2007 04:24, Larry F. a écrit :

Thanks,
Larry

You also may take a look at the ‘English’ library, from the stdlib
(RDoc Documentation). It gives explicit names to the predefined
global variables. At the same time, it’s a good resource for describing
their
meanings.

eg :
$! → $ERROR_INFO
$@ → $ERROR_POSITION
$_ → $LAST_READ_LINE

6

Thank you all. Those are great references that I added to our local
Wiki. Here are some diagnostics on the links:

Ruby Central was inaccessible when I tried it, 8:30 PDT Saturday.

Ruby.org’s copy of the Pragmantic Programmer’s Guide is different
(older?) than phrogz.

This link:
http://phrogz.net/ProgrammingRuby/language.html#predefinedvariables
takes me to the right page but the #… didn’t work.

English looks great but it seems to be missing $: and probably a few
other internal variables.

Again, thank you all very much.
Larry F.

7

Le dimanche 02 septembre 2007 05:44, Larry F. a écrit :

takes me to the right page but the #… didn’t work.

English looks great but it seems to be missing $: and probably a few
other internal variables.

Again, thank you all very much.
Larry F.

English doesn’t define a name for $: because there’s already an alias
for this
one, in the core ruby : $LOAD_PATH

8

On Sep 1, 9:44 pm, Larry F. [email protected] wrote:

Ruby.org’s copy of the Pragmantic Programmer’s Guide is different
(older?) than phrogz.

I did a lot of custom markup and CSS from the source code (awesomely)
offered up for free by the original authors, but I think the source
file is likely the same.

This link:The Ruby Language
takes me to the right page but the #… didn’t work.

Can’t imagine why. What OS/browser/version? That page validates as
correct HTML 4.01 Transitional, and there is 1 and only 1 element on
that page with the ID “predefinedvariables”.

The sub-page anchor works for me in both Safari and Firefox on the Mac.

9

Gavin K. wrote:

Larry F. wrote:

Ruby.org’s copy of Pragmantic Programmer is different (older?) than phrogz.
…but I think the source file is likely the same.

Hmmm. On the Language page in particular, phrogz version is very
different. The ruby-doc and ruby-central versions seem to be the same.
The Language page stops after:
Variables and Constants
Scope of Variables and Constants
—end of page—
Next link goes to Classes and Objects

But in phrogz version Variables and Constants appears at the 1/3 mark on
the page. Also the index interface is completely different. Phrogz
copy goes on to list
Predefined Variables (the very next section)
Expressions
Method Definition
Class Definition
Module Definition
Access Control
Blocks, Closures & Procs
Exceptions
—end of page—
Next link goes to Classes and Objects - same as the other copies

This link:The Ruby Language
takes me to the right page but the #… didn’t work.
I went back and it worked this time. Must have been Gremlins :-o

Thanks for mentioning $LOAD_PATH, Olivier. Googling it turned up
multiple hits but none in any ‘standard’ Ruby sites. Searching on
ruby-lang.org came up blank as well. Like sooo many things it’s
community knowledge.

Thank you again,
Larry