[Newbies] concatenation of non-Collections

[Bert Freudenberg]

Am 02.11.2008 um 12:34 schrieb Mark Volkmann <mark at ociweb.com>:

> Wouldn't it be convenient if you could do this:
>
>    msg := 'The number is ', number
>
> instead of
>
>    msg := 'The number is ', number printString
>
> Or even this:
>
>    msg := number, ' is the value you entered.'
>
> instead of
>
>    msg := number printString, ' is the value you entered.'
>
> This would require the comma method in Collection to act differently  
> when the argument isn't a Collection
> and the Number class would need to add a comma method.

It's convenient indeed but could lead to surprises for non-string  
collections. Also, there is a school of thinking that abhors any  
"magic". It does change the semantics of #, depending on the passed  
object, so there is some reason nor to do it.

I personally find it useful, and IIRC Croquet implements String>>, as  
"^super , anObject asString."

- Bert -