Codewars Challenge: Format Names

format_names.rb

# Given: an array containing hashes of names

# Return: a string formatted as a list of names separated by commas except for the last two names, which should be separated by an ampersand.

# Example:

# list([ {name: 'Bart'}, {name: 'Lisa'}, {name: 'Maggie'} ])
# # returns 'Bart, Lisa & Maggie'

# list([ {name: 'Bart'}, {name: 'Lisa'} ])
# # returns 'Bart & Lisa'

# list([ {name: 'Bart'} ])
# # returns 'Bart'

# list([])

#-----
#My Solution:

def list names
  count = 0
  return names[0][:name] if names.size == 1 
  
  names.each_with_object("") do |name_hash, str| 
    if ( count == names.length - 1 )
      str << " & #{name_hash[:name]}"   #ampersand before the last word
    elsif count == 0
      str << "#{name_hash[:name]}"    #no comma before the first word
    else
      str << ", #{name_hash[:name]}"
    end
    count +=1
  end
end

#This felt clunky.  I liked the top 'Best Practice' solution on Codewars - use map first to get an array, 
#pop and edit the last name, rejoin the names, and append the last.

#Codewars Best Practice Solution:

def list names
  names = names.map { |name| name[:name] }
  last_name = names.pop
  return last_name.to_s if names.empty?
  "#{names.join(', ')} & #{last_name}"
end