I like it! -----Original Message----- From: Dave Thomas [SMTP:Dave / PragmaticProgrammer.com] Sent: Monday, February 26, 2001 4:21 PM To: ruby-talk ML; ruby-talk / netlab.co.jp Subject: [ruby-talk:11633] RCR: shortcut for instance variable initialization I'm sure this will break all sorts of stuff, but just in case it doesn't: I'm constantly creating small classes, and many of them start something like: class Msg def initialize(name, type, txt) @name, @type, @txt = name, type, txt end # ... end So, could we change parameter passing slightly so that if an instance method has a formal parameter starting with an '@' sign, the incoming value is assigned directly to the corresponding instance variable? Using this scheme I could write the above as: class Msg def initialize(@name, @type, @txt) end end This would also bring methods one step closer to blocks :) I want to thank the committee for this opportunity of presenting a request, and wish them all good health and fortune. Dave