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Feature #5478

Updated by sawa (Tsuyoshi Sawada) over 3 years ago

Set =begin 
 A set is a central data structure. However, a lot of Ruby developers use arrays for situations where it would be more reasonable to use a set. One reason for that is that it is way easier to use Array than then Set at the moment. Another moment, another one is that developers are simply not aware that it exists. 

 I propose to move moving Set from `stdlib` the stdlib to core and possibly add a literal syntax or a method on array for creating a Set. Set literals. 

 First class syntax suggestions: 

     <1, 2, 3>    # might be tricky to parse 
     #[1, 2, 3] # would collide with comments 
     $[1, 2, 3] 
     ${1, 2, 3} 

 Method suggestions: 

     ~[1, 2, 3] 
     +[1, 2, 3] 

 Whitespace separated String Sets could look like this: 

     %w<foo bar blah> # creates an array at the moment  
     #w[foo bar blah] # would collide with comments 
     $w[foo bar blah] # would collide with sending :[] to $w 
     $w{foo bar blah} 

     ~%w[foo bar blah] # not really shorter than using an array with strings 
     +%w[foo bar balh] # not really shorter than using an array with strings 

 Maybe it's ok to not have a whitespace separated syntax. syntax, I'm just brainstorming here. 

 An The issue with the method approach is that it would create an Array first to which send the message would be sent. to first. 

 I favor the `<1, <1, 2, 3>` 3> syntax, possibly without the ability to create a whitespace separated version. 

 I'd be willing to work on a patch not only for MRI but also for JRuby and Rubinius if you would consider this to be useful although useful. 
 Although I would need help with the parser. 
 =end 

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