ruby - A way to implement `String#split!` -

ruby - A way to implement `String#split!` -

sometimes need such method, alter class of own object. there string#delete!, #downcase!, #encode!, #gsub!, #strip!, #slice!, etc. trying alter string, resulting class anyway still string. , want method, can convert string array. way create this:

irb(main):082:0> str = "qwerty" => "qwerty" irb(main):083:0> str.split! "e" => ["qw", "rty"] irb(main):084:0> str => ["qw", "rty"]

is possible? maybe cool state of japan kung-fu or ugly bicycles — see solution.

nope, not possible. objects can't alter classes in ruby.

in smalltalk, example, utilize become::

becomesubstrings: astring self become: (self substrings: astring).

if phone call this:

s := 'qwerty'. s becomesubstrings: 'e'.

now, s array:

transcript show: s printstring.

the result is:

#('qw' 'rty')

technically, become: doesn't alter class of object, rather lets 1 object become object. in case, allow self become result of self substrings:, splits string array of substrings. result same: original string receiver array.

ruby class self-modifying