Simple question: pointer equivalent in ruby

Ruby
#1

learned ruby a few months ago - is there a pointer equivalent in ruby
for setting the variable referenced by the return value of a function,
rather than just getting it?

like something that would allow you to do this.

def method
@value
end

@value = 5
method = 3
@value (should be 3)

OR even

value = 5
othervalue = value
othervalue = 3
value (should be 3)

#2

Shea B. wrote in post #954956:

OR even

value = 5
othervalue = value
othervalue = 3
value (should be 3)

That is precisely how ruby works by default. If you wanted othervalue to
just take the ‘value’ of value, i.e. 3, you would use this instead:

value = 5
other = value.dup
puts other #5
other = 3
puts other #3
puts value #5

#3

what about the first example with the method?

#4

Well generally for such situations you create setters, the example you
gave
includes only a getter.

def method=(val)
@value = val
end

that will then allow you to do method = 3 & that will in turn set @value
to
3.

Although I don’t see what exactly you wanted to know or what you’re
example
had to do with pointers…

–
Thanks & Regards,
Dhruva S…

#5

Hi –

On Mon, 18 Oct 2010, Parker S. wrote:

value = 5
other = value.dup

Have you tried running that? :slight_smile:

David

–
David A. Black, Senior Developer, Cyrus Innovation Inc.

The Ruby training with Black/Brown/McAnally
Compleat Stay tuned for next event!
Rubyist http://www.compleatrubyist.com

#6

I was confused about the way that ruby assigns and stores variables.

I fixed my problem using setters and getters.

thanks for the help

#7

On 10/17/2010 06:22 PM, Shea B. wrote:

what about the first example with the method?

method = 3 will always assign to a local variable. If you really want
to produce other side effects you need to do

self.method = 3

The topic seems to come up more frequently in recent time. I don’t know
whether Ruby community experiences increased migration from C++
developers or what the reason for this is. I believe the fact that
people search for something call by reference in said language indicates
that they do not have adjusted to the Ruby mindset yet. Shea, if you
provide more context we might be able to help you understand how the
problem you are trying to solve is usually solved in Ruby - without call
by reference.

Kind regards

robert

#8

David A. Black wrote in post #954969:

Hi –

On Mon, 18 Oct 2010, Parker S. wrote:

value = 5
other = value.dup

Have you tried running that? :slight_smile:

Doh!

I really should have gone with a non nil, symbol, number example instead
=)

Shea B. wrote:

I fixed my problem using setters and getters.

If you’re now writing manual accessors (method, method=) definitely look
at attr_accessor, which will save you a lot of work.