I don’t know, can you?

1 March 2010 // Filed under Uncategorized

<rant>

There has been, and continues to be, a lot of talk around writing semantic code. One thing that gets under my skin, and I wish it would stop, is the continued use of #can?(:do_something) as a pattern for handling permissions. I have no problem with the pattern itself, it’s the verb I take issue with. “Can” asks for the ability to do something, “may” asks for permission” Get it right people.

Doesn’t anyone else remember the following scenario from second grade?

Miniature you: “Teacher, teacher! Can I go do the bathroom, please?”
Mrs. WhatsHerName: “I don’t know, can you?”
Miniature, pissed off, you: “Well, yea, I can…” <blank stare />

I’m looking at you cancan, canable and walruz.

If you still don’t get it read this.

As far as I know, the only plugin out there that handles this (semantic issue) correctly is Makandra’s Aegis. And they are GERMAN. It functionally works about the same as well. So props to them for that.

</rant>

2010-03-01  ::  admin