gistfile1.rb

def prompt(text=[])
  text = [text].flatten
  text.unshift('>').push(nil) # for trailing space
  print text.join(' ')
  return gets
end

def counter(maxcount)
	numbers = []
	for i in maxcount
		puts "At the top of i is #{i}"
		numbers.push(i)
		i += 1
		puts "Numbers now: #{numbers}"
		puts "At the bottom of i is #{i}"
	end
end

counter(0..prompt('how many?').to_i)

def counter2(maxcount)
  numbers = []
  # next line complicates unit testing a bunch ...
  maxcount = 0..maxcount.to_i unless maxcount.respond_to? :each
  for elem in maxcount
    puts "At the top of maxcount is #{elem}"
    numbers.push elem
    puts "numbers now: #{numbers}"
  end
end

counter2 prompt 'how many again? I forgot ...'

# more ruby
def prompt2( text=[], &block )
  ret = prompt text
  ret = block.call( ret ) if block_given?
  return ret
end

prompt2 "once more, how many?" do |answer|
  counter2 answer
end