From: David MacMahon <davidm@...>
Date: 2013-02-08T10:37:44+09:00
Subject: [ruby-core:52020] Re: [ruby-trunk - Feature #7792] Make symbols and strings the same thing


On Feb 7, 2013, at 5:15 PM, Eric Hodel wrote:

> On Feb 7, 2013, at 10:43, David MacMahon <davidm@astro.berkeley.edu> wrote:
>> I think the number of real world uses of something like:
>> 
>> {:a => 0, 'a' => 1}
>> 
>> is likely to be very small.
> 
> Every time you run `gem` you use a hash that contains both symbol and string keys used for different purposes.
> 
> In ~/.gemrc symbols are used for configuration options while strings are used for command default arguments.

Well, that's one!  In my defense, one is a very small number even if that one is of very large consequence. :-)

Just to play Devil's advocate, could that not be separated into two different hashes: one for config options and one for command default arguments?  You have given semantic meaning to (the class of) the key.  Isn't that akin to treating the primary key of a database record in a non-opaque manner?

Dave