Here's what I have now and it is somewhat working:
def padding(a, b, c=nil)
until a[b-1]
a << c
end
end
This is when it works:
a=[1,2,3]
padding(a,10,"YES")
=>[1, 2, 3, "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES"]
a[1,2,3]
padding(a,10,1)
=>[1, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1]
But it crashes when I do not enter a value for "c"
a=[1,2,3]
padding(a,10)
Killed
How should I append this to avoid a crash? Additionally, how would you suggest changing this method to use it as follows:
[1,2,3].padding(10)
=>[1,2,3,nil,nil,nil,nil,nil,nil,nil]
[1,2,3].padding(10, "YES")
=>[1, 2, 3, "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES"]
I've seen other padding methods on SO, but they don't seem to be working as intended by the authors. So, I decided to give making my own a shot.
It is killed, because you are entering infinite loop. until a[b-1] will not finish, because when you add nils to the array, you will get:
a == [1, 2, 3, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil]
after few iterations and a[b-1] will be nil, which is falsey. Until will never stop.
About the second question, it is easy to extend existing Array class:
class Array
def padding(i, value=nil)
(i - length).times { self << value }
self
end
end
Result as you expected:
[1,2,3].padding(10)
#=> [1, 2, 3, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil]
[1,2,3].padding(10, "YES")
#=> [1, 2, 3, "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES"]
Note the method about modifies existing array (so due to Ruby conventions should be called padding!):
a = [1,2,3]
#=> [1, 2, 3]
a.padding(10, "YES")
#=> [1, 2, 3, "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES"]
a
#=> [1, 2, 3, "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES", "YES"]
But of course you can easy create the version of the method which doesn't modify. I assumed you want to modify the array, because your original method did it.