[Newbies] Interval>>copyFrom:to:

[Bert Freudenberg]

On 11.12.2010, at 13:58, Ralph Boland wrote:

> Could someone  explain why:
> 
>      (5 to: 100010) copyFrom: 3 to: 1000000
> 
> returns an Array rather than an Interval?

Because Interval>>species is Array.

This lets us re-use the generic collection methods instead of having to re-implement them for little benefit.

> Returning an Interval is more intuitive to me
> since the copyFrom:to: message is being sent
> to an Interval.
> Of course, for the the example above at least,
> it is more efficient as well.

It would only be more efficient if it ever got used. Can't imagine a case where this would be useful. It would add complexity to the implementation though.

- Bert -