Question

Update: the much better answer has little to do with refactoring, but has to do with setting a default for empty keys. See the first answer- thanks a lot guys!

Hi folks, how would you refactor this?

    if n=network_stats["b"]
      network_stats["b"] = n +1 
    else
      network_stats["b"]=1
    end

I have a nagging feeling this can be done in 2 lines

Answer 1

# do this when network_stats is defined
network_stats.default= 0

# to increment the network stats
network_stats["b"] += 1

for example

>> (network_stats={}).default= 0
=> 0
>> network_stats["b"] += 1
=> 1
>> network_stats
=> {"b"=>1}