test_IO.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby

#helpful page: 
# http://www.ruby-doc.org/docs/ruby-doc-bundle/Manual/man-1.4/IO.html
#
# This program tests the ability of ruby to know what stdout is.
# Its useful in the case below when I don't want a newline at the end if I am
# piping to something

def print_things
    "hello world"
end

#s = print_things + "%s"
printf "#{print_things}%s", ( $stdout.tty? ? "\n" : "" )