title: Ruby To Python Syntax Confusion
body: <p>I'm trying to convert someone's Ruby code into my Python code.  The originally developer is no longer with us and I don't know Ruby. Most of his code is easy enough to follow, but some of the following syntax is tripping me up.</p>
  
  <p>Example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>                myTable = ''
                  myTable &lt;&lt; [ 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 300].pack('vvvvvv')
                  myTable [40, 4] = [41310005 - 5].pack('V')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>1) Am I correct to assume that after the 2nd line, myTable is going to hold an array of 6 values specified in the []'s?  And is that <code>.pack()</code> similar to Python's <code>struct.pack</code> ?</p>
  
  <p>2) After the third line, is the value on the right going to be stored at position 40 in the array and be 4 bytes long?  Is the -5 in the []'s just him being fun or does that hold some special significance?</p>