Re: mini-golf: first differing position

On 20 Apr 2004 at 19:57, [email protected] wrote:

> We want to find out the first position $n at which strings $x and $y
> differ.  If $x eq $y, then $n is undef.  If $x ne $y but $x is a
> prefix (aka initial segment) of $y, then $n should be equal to length
> $x.  The operation must preserve both $x and $y (i.e. destructive
> operations are disallowed).

How about [not golfing so the code is clearer]:
    my $diff = $x ^ $y;
    my ($len) = $diff =~ /^([\0])[^\0]/ ;
    return uhdef if not defined $len ;
    return length $len;'

/Bernie\

-- 
Bernie Cosell                     Fantasy Farm Fibers
mailto:[email protected]     Pearisburg, VA
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