Johannes Friestad wrote: ... > > HOST = :host > PORT = :port > foo1 = { > HOST => 'localhost', > PORT => 80 > } > > which is equally safe, simpler to read, doesn't need the ConstUtil, > and automagically gives a constant with a readable string value. > My hack was a quicky to flesh out the example. After sending it I thought about assigning symbols. My main point was that if one mistypes a symbol name, Ruby doesn't care. Unit tests should catch this, but using constants might just help things along because of the immediate error. And it might more clearly express intent. James -- http://www.ruby-doc.org - Ruby Help & Documentation http://www.artima.com/rubycs/ - Ruby Code & Style: Writers wanted http://www.rubystuff.com - The Ruby Store for Ruby Stuff http://www.jamesbritt.com - Playing with Better Toys http://www.30secondrule.com - Building Better Tools