A comparison of ChatGPT output when asked to write "in the style of" two different authors.

diff.txt

$ wdiff gpt_as_jaymcgavren.txt gpt_as_dhh.txt
Hey there, fellow [-Rubyists! Today, we're going to-] {+Ruby enthusiasts! Let's+} talk about [-one of-] {+Hashes,+} the [-most powerful-] {+gloriously versatile+} data [-structures in Ruby: Hashes.

If you're new-] {+structure that's as essential+} to [-programming or just getting started with Ruby, you might be wondering what a Hash is. Simply put, a Hash-] {+Ruby as air+} is [-a collection-] {+to breathing.

Hashes, also known as associative arrays or dictionaries in other programming languages, are an integral part+} of {+the Ruby ecosystem. They let you group together+} key-value [-pairs, where each key maps to-] {+pairs that are easily accessible and modifiable using+} a [-corresponding value.-] {+key.+} Think of [-it-] {+them+} as [-a dictionary,-] {+an unordered list of items+} where {+each item has its own name that+} you [-look up a word (the key)-] {+can use+} to [-find its definition (the value).-] {+fetch it.+}

Here's a simple [-example:-] {+example to illustrate the concept:+}

ruby
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person = { "name" => [-"Jay",-] {+"David",+} "age" => [-34,-] {+42,+} "location" => [-"United States"-] {+"Denmark"+} }
[-In this example, person is-]
{+This creates+} a Hash with three key-value [-pairs. The keys are "name", "age", and "location", and the corresponding values are "Jay", 34, and "United States", respectively.

One thing-] {+pairs: "name" maps+} to [-note about Hashes is that the keys must be unique. If you try-] {+"David", "age" maps+} to [-add a key-value pair where the key already exists, the new value will overwrite the old value. For example:

ruby
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person["name"] = "John"
This will change the value of the "name" key from "Jay"-] {+42, and "location" maps+} to [-"John".

Hashes are extremely useful because they allow-] {+"Denmark". If+} you {+wanted+} to [-quickly look up values based on a key. Instead of searching through an entire collection to find a specific value,-] {+access David's name,+} you [-can-] {+could+} simply use the key [-to get the value you need.-] {+"name":+}

ruby
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puts person["name"] # Output: [-John
In addition-] {+David
Easy, right? But what if we wanted+} to [-using strings as keys, you can also-] use symbols as [-keys. Symbols are similar to strings, but they are immutable (meaning they cannot be changed once they are created) and have a slightly different syntax. Here's an example:-] {+keys instead of strings? No problem, Ruby has got us covered!+}

ruby
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person = { name: [-"Jay",-] {+"David",+} age: [-34,-] {+42,+} location: [-"United States"-] {+"Denmark"+} }
This [-creates-] {+is+} the same Hash as before, but with symbols {+as keys+} instead of [-strings as keys. You can access-] {+strings. The syntax is a bit different, but+} the [-values in-] {+concept remains+} the [-same way as before:-] {+same. Now if we wanted to access David's age, we could use the key :age:+}

ruby
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puts [-person[:name]-] {+person[:age]+} # Output: [-Jay
So-] {+42
But+} why [-would you-] use symbols [-as keys-] instead of [-strings? One reason is that-] {+strings as keys? For starters,+} symbols are [-faster-] {+immutable+} and more memory-efficient than [-strings, which can be important if you're dealing with large amounts of data. Another reason is that-] {+strings. They're also a bit faster since Ruby doesn't need to create a new object every time you use them as a key. In addition,+} symbols are often used to represent concepts or actions, [-while-] {+whereas+} strings are used to represent data.

[-In addition to using strings and symbols as keys, you-]

{+But wait, there's more! You+} can also use any [-other-] object as a [-key,-] {+key in a Hash,+} as long as it can be hashed. This includes [-integers, floats, and even-] other Hashes!

ruby
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hash_of_hashes = { { name: [-"Jay"-] {+"David"+} } => { age: [-34,-] {+42,+} location: [-"United States"-] {+"Denmark"+} } }
puts hash_of_hashes[{ name: [-"Jay"-] {+"David"+} }] # Output: { age: [-34,-] {+42,+} location: [-"United States"-] {+"Denmark"+} }
[-As you can see,-]
{+In this example, we have a Hash of+} Hashes [-are incredibly flexible and can be used to store almost any kind-] {+where the key+} of [-data.-] {+the outer Hash is another Hash. When we want to access the inner Hash, we use the outer Hash's key to fetch it. Neat, huh?+}

In conclusion, Hashes are an [-essential tool in-] {+indispensable part of Ruby that+} every [-Rubyist's toolbox. They allow you to store and access data quickly and efficiently,-] {+developer should be comfortable using. They're flexible, fast, memory-efficient,+} and [-their flexibility makes them suitable for a wide range-] {+can store almost any kind+} of [-applications.-] {+data you can think of.+} So the next time you need to store a [-collection-] {+bunch+} of key-value pairs, [-remember to reach for a Hash!-] {+think Hashes!+}

gpt_as_dhh.txt

[Prompt: "Now rewrite the post in the style of David Heinemeier Hansson."]

Hey there, fellow Ruby enthusiasts! Let's talk about Hashes, the gloriously versatile data structure that's as essential to Ruby as air is to breathing.

Hashes, also known as associative arrays or dictionaries in other programming languages, are an integral part of the Ruby ecosystem. They let you group together key-value pairs that are easily accessible and modifiable using a key. Think of them as an unordered list of items where each item has its own name that you can use to fetch it.

Here's a simple example to illustrate the concept:

ruby
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person = { "name" => "David", "age" => 42, "location" => "Denmark" }
This creates a Hash with three key-value pairs: "name" maps to "David", "age" maps to 42, and "location" maps to "Denmark". If you wanted to access David's name, you could simply use the key "name":

ruby
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puts person["name"] # Output: David
Easy, right? But what if we wanted to use symbols as keys instead of strings? No problem, Ruby has got us covered!

ruby
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person = { name: "David", age: 42, location: "Denmark" }
This is the same Hash as before, but with symbols as keys instead of strings. The syntax is a bit different, but the concept remains the same. Now if we wanted to access David's age, we could use the key :age:

ruby
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puts person[:age] # Output: 42
But why use symbols instead of strings as keys? For starters, symbols are immutable and more memory-efficient than strings. They're also a bit faster since Ruby doesn't need to create a new object every time you use them as a key. In addition, symbols are often used to represent concepts or actions, whereas strings are used to represent data.

But wait, there's more! You can also use any object as a key in a Hash, as long as it can be hashed. This includes other Hashes!

ruby
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hash_of_hashes = { { name: "David" } => { age: 42, location: "Denmark" } }
puts hash_of_hashes[{ name: "David" }] # Output: { age: 42, location: "Denmark" }
In this example, we have a Hash of Hashes where the key of the outer Hash is another Hash. When we want to access the inner Hash, we use the outer Hash's key to fetch it. Neat, huh?

In conclusion, Hashes are an indispensable part of Ruby that every developer should be comfortable using. They're flexible, fast, memory-efficient, and can store almost any kind of data you can think of. So the next time you need to store a bunch of key-value pairs, think Hashes!

gpt_as_jay_mcgavren.txt

[Prompt: "Write a blog post about Ruby hashes in the style of Jay McGavren."]

Hey there, fellow Rubyists! Today, we're going to talk about one of the most powerful data structures in Ruby: Hashes.

If you're new to programming or just getting started with Ruby, you might be wondering what a Hash is. Simply put, a Hash is a collection of key-value pairs, where each key maps to a corresponding value. Think of it as a dictionary, where you look up a word (the key) to find its definition (the value).

Here's a simple example:

ruby
Copy code
person = { "name" => "Jay", "age" => 34, "location" => "United States" }
In this example, person is a Hash with three key-value pairs. The keys are "name", "age", and "location", and the corresponding values are "Jay", 34, and "United States", respectively.

One thing to note about Hashes is that the keys must be unique. If you try to add a key-value pair where the key already exists, the new value will overwrite the old value. For example:

ruby
Copy code
person["name"] = "John"
This will change the value of the "name" key from "Jay" to "John".

Hashes are extremely useful because they allow you to quickly look up values based on a key. Instead of searching through an entire collection to find a specific value, you can simply use the key to get the value you need.

ruby
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puts person["name"] # Output: John
In addition to using strings as keys, you can also use symbols as keys. Symbols are similar to strings, but they are immutable (meaning they cannot be changed once they are created) and have a slightly different syntax. Here's an example:

ruby
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person = { name: "Jay", age: 34, location: "United States" }
This creates the same Hash as before, but with symbols instead of strings as keys. You can access the values in the same way as before:

ruby
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puts person[:name] # Output: Jay
So why would you use symbols as keys instead of strings? One reason is that symbols are faster and more memory-efficient than strings, which can be important if you're dealing with large amounts of data. Another reason is that symbols are often used to represent concepts or actions, while strings are used to represent data.

In addition to using strings and symbols as keys, you can also use any other object as a key, as long as it can be hashed. This includes integers, floats, and even other Hashes!

ruby
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hash_of_hashes = { { name: "Jay" } => { age: 34, location: "United States" } }
puts hash_of_hashes[{ name: "Jay" }] # Output: { age: 34, location: "United States" }
As you can see, Hashes are incredibly flexible and can be used to store almost any kind of data.

In conclusion, Hashes are an essential tool in every Rubyist's toolbox. They allow you to store and access data quickly and efficiently, and their flexibility makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. So the next time you need to store a collection of key-value pairs, remember to reach for a Hash!