Pointer concept in Ruby ?

[Iñaki Baz Castillo]

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[Mikael Høilund]

Hi, I'd like to have a variable pointing to a Hash/Array element, so
if I modify the variable then the Hash/Array element is modified too.

AFAIK this is not possible with Ruby since the abscense of pointer
concept. I want the following:

array =3D [ "aaa", "bbb", "ccc" ]

a1 =3D array[1]._some_method_
=3D> "bbb"

a1 =3D "BBB"
=3D> "BBB"

a[1]
=3D> "BBB"

Is it possible in some way? Thanks a lot.


-- =20
I=F1aki Baz Castillo
<[email protected]>

Quoth irb:

array =3D [ "aaa", "bbb", "ccc" ] =3D> ["aaa", "bbb", "ccc"]
a1 =3D array[1] =3D> "bbb"
a1.upcase! =3D> "BBB"
array =3D> ["aaa", "BBB", "ccc"]

You never pass by value, so you're in essence always dealing with =20
pointers.
With your example, you merely made a1 point at a different object, a =20
new string, instead of the second string in the array.

If you however call a self-modifying method on a1 while it's pointing =20=

at the array string, it'll also change in the array, as it's still =20
pointing at the same object.

What are you trying to achieve in practice?=

 

[Bill Kelly]

Hi, I'd like to have a variable pointing to a Hash/Array element, so
if I modify the variable then the Hash/Array element is modified too.

AFAIK this is not possible with Ruby since the abscense of pointer
concept. I want the following:

array = [ "aaa", "bbb", "ccc" ]

a1 = array[1]._some_method_
=> "bbb"

a1 = "BBB"
=> "BBB"

a[1]
=> "BBB"

Is it possible in some way? Thanks a lot.

In general this not easily possible with Ruby, and you'll probably want to
rethink your design so that you don't need to do that.

However, there is a String#replace method, which may be useful if you're
sure this is what you want to do:

=> ["aaa", "bbb", "ccc"]

a1 = array[1] => "bbb"
a1.replace "BBB" => "BBB"
array[1]

=> "BBB"


Regards,

Bill

 

[Iñaki Baz Castillo]

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[Iñaki Baz Castillo]

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[Simon Krahnke]

No, that's not true. Demostration:

You aren't calling a "self-modifying method".

mfg, simon .... l

 

[Simon Krahnke]

a2 = array[2]._something_

a2="QWE"

array[2]
=> "QWE"

You can't redefine =.

mfg, simon .... l

 

[Adam Shelly]

Isn't there any mehotd more "normal"? something as:

a2 =3D array[2]._something_

a2=3D"QWE"

array[2]
=3D> "QWE"

There are probabaly a million reasons this is a bad idea, but what about:

require 'ptrclass'
=3D> true
a =3D [0,1,2,3]
=3D> [0, 1, 2, 3]
ap =3D a.ptr(3)
=3D> 3
ap.val=3D4
=3D> 4
a
=3D> [0, 1, 2, 4]
r=3Da.ptr(6)
=3D> nil
r.val=3D4
=3D> 4
a
=3D> [1, 34, 3, nil, nil, nil, 4]

--- ptrclass.rb----
class PtrClass < DelegateClass(Object)
def initialize v
super
__setobj__ v
end
def val=3D v
__setobj__ v
end
end
class Array
def ptr n
v=3D self[n]
self[n] =3D v.is_a?(PtrClass) ? v : PtrClass.new(v)
end
end

 

[Iñaki Baz Castillo]

El Jueves, 24 de Abril de 2008, (e-mail address removed) escribi=C3=B3:

In your example, you weren't changing what a1 pointed to; you were not
changing anything about the object itself.

irb(main):001:0> a =3D ['0','1','2','3']
=3D> ["0", "1", "2", "3"]
irb(main):002:0> a[1]
=3D> "1"
irb(main):003:0> a1 =3D a[1]
=3D> "1"
irb(main):004:0> a1 << 'abc'
=3D> "1abc"
irb(main):005:0> a[1]
=3D> "1abc"

This is what he meant by "self-modifying" methods. =C2=A0Methods that cha= nge
something about the object itself.

Really thanks. You are right, I didn't understand the meaning=20
of "self-modifying" method, I thought that "=3D" was also a "self-modifying=
"=20
method.

Sorry for the confusion and thanks a lot.

=2D-=20
I=C3=B1aki Baz Castillo

 

[Iñaki Baz Castillo]

El Jueves, 24 de Abril de 2008, Adam Shelly escribi=F3:

There are probabaly a million reasons this is a bad idea, but what about:

require 'ptrclass'
=3D> true
a =3D [0,1,2,3]
=3D> [0, 1, 2, 3]
ap =3D a.ptr(3)
=3D> 3
ap.val=3D4
=3D> 4
a
=3D> [0, 1, 2, 4]
r=3Da.ptr(6)
=3D> nil
r.val=3D4
=3D> 4
a
=3D> [1, 34, 3, nil, nil, nil, 4]

--- ptrclass.rb----
class PtrClass < DelegateClass(Object)
def initialize v
super
__setobj__ v
end
def val=3D v
__setobj__ v
end
end
class Array
def ptr n
v=3D self[n]
self[n] =3D v.is_a?(PtrClass) ? v : PtrClass.new(v)
end
end

It seems magic, thanks a lot.


=2D-=20
I=F1aki Baz Castillo

 

[Sebastian Hungerecker]

I thought that "=3D" was also a "self-modifying"
method.

=3D isn't a method. If it was a method, x=3Dy could not result in x having =
a=20
different object_id than before. It could also not result in x having a=20
different class than before.
What x =3D y does, is that it makes x point to the same object as y which=20
doesn't affect the old object x pointed to at all.
Basically methods change the object (or not) and =3D changes the variable.
I don't think it's possible to have a =3D method without static typing.

Note though that in "foo.bar =3D baz" bar=3D actually is a method on foo an=
d not=20
an assignment operation.

HTH,
Sebastian
=2D-=20
NP: Depeche Mode - Little 15
Jabber: (e-mail address removed)
ICQ: 205544826

 

[Iñaki Baz Castillo]

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