Search code examples
rubyrake

unexpected syntax error (

I wrote the following code in a file 1_arithmetic.rb:

def arithmetic1(n)
  (n * 5) - 20
end

Using the gem tool rake, I typed this into the console:

rake 1_arithmetic.rb:arithmetic1(5)

Then, I got an error message that reads:

syntax error near unexpected token `('

Does anyone know where I might have done wrong? Or is the problem the way I used rake?

Solution

  • I believe rake can only be used with a rake task. You could create a rake task that then calls your method.

    require './1_arithmetic.rb'
task :arithmetic, [:n] => [:environment] do |t, args|
  arithmetic1(args[:n])
end

    You would then call the task using

    rake arithmetic[5]

    reference: How can I run a ruby class from rake file?

    reference: How to pass command line arguments to a rake task