[Wtr-general] I am a newb

[Paul Carvalho]

Word to the wise..

On 01/09/06, Lonny Eachus <lonny at titanez.net> wrote:
>
> David, sometimes these people forget what it is like to be a newb, and
> give you specific information might be helpful *IF* you had a context in
> which to put it. From what you say, it appears you need some more
> general information first.


[snip]

    $ie.link(:id, 'sessionDialogCancel').click
>
> However, I will caution you that it is usually not a good idea to use
> global variables like $ie.  In the vast majority of cases, you will want
> to use an instance variable instead, which uses the @ sign. So rather
> than $ie you would have @ie.


I hardly think that bringing up the difference between global and instance
variables to someone who doesn't know how to start IRB is a good idea right
now.  I think you should follow your own advice and keep things simple right
now.

I don't consider myself a newb anymore but I still can't be bothered working
out the difference between global and instance variables in my scripts.  $ie
works quite nicely for me and I am really not interested in sorting out the
difference right now.  Global/class/instance/local variables all have their
place and everyone has their own ideas about how to use them based on their
level of programming experience.  Do you really think this is the right time
to spring them on David?

I remember all too well the frustrations I went through in the beginning
trying to figure out Ruby and Watir and getting advanced advice like yours
above that had almost no meaning to me whatsoever from where I was coming
from.

Points for hitting the target, but you missed the bullseye. (i.e. added to
the confusion factor)  Just a friendly reminder.  (I'm not shooting the
messenger, just letting you know that I don't believe the message was
helpful this time.)

Cheers.  Paul.
(The recent post-newb who's more interested in solving testing problems with
scripts than learning to become a programmer.)
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