Question

Here is what I do quite often in Python:

simple_call = lambda name: extract(some[fairly][hidden], name)
result1 = simple_call('myname')
result2 = simple_call('yourname')
result3 = simple_call('hisname')

This is really handy if you have to extract some data from some complex data structure or some strange API repeatedly.

Is there a way to do the same thing in Ruby?

Answer 1

Short answer: No. The closest thing is:

simple_call = lambda {|name| extract(some[:fairly][:hidden], name) }
result1 = simple_call.call("myname")
result2 = simple_call.call("yourname")
result3 = simple_call.call("hisname")

Why? Because parenthesis in Ruby are optional. Then, you need to tell ruby to call the method. For example, in Python you could do:

another_simple_call = simple_call

And you are assigning the lambda to another_simple_call. But in Ruby there would be no way to know if you are assigning or calling simple_call with zero arguments.