Conrad: > > nilDefault or nil_default? Charles: > I really prefer avoiding underscores in names. Internal > capitalization provides all the break needed for easy > reading, and many auxiliary programs split the parts > of an underscored name separately. Let's not start a war from this, but I'd like to make few notes: 1) Ruby standard library uses underscore pretty much consistently on method names (which means I didn't find any counter example fast), and UpcaseStartingCamelCase on ClassNames. Stuff at lib/ might not be so consistent anymore. 2) It has been said (can't site any authority here) that non-native English speakers find under_scored names easier to read than other alternatives (like popular camelCase). 3) For me both go. I think Ruby code is cleaner with modest use of underscores, but excessive use of them makes the code hard to read. The same applies to camelCase. I guess I like things like they are now, and would vote for conservatism on this one. Meaning nil_default is ok. (I guess we ended up naming the method as when, and the problem went away naturally. :) - Aleksi