Re: proposed addition to perlvar

On Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 11:44, Tom Christiansen <[email protected]> wrote:
> In-Reply-To: Message from "Chas. Owens" <[email protected]>
>   of "Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:23:02 EDT."
>   <[email protected]>
>
>>> I like what you have below for both, particularly the bit about the
>>> warnings.  Could you please re-submit them in patch format?
>
>> [ SNIP ]
>
>> I moved both variables into a new section named "Deprecated Names"
>> between "Predefined Names" and "Error Indicators".  I also change
>> one of the examples in $# based on concern raised by some of the
>> other emails.
>
> Might we please consider coming up with some less remonstrative synonym
> for "Deprecrated" to be used in cases such as this one here before us?
>
> I ask this for two reasons.  The first is that "deprecated" has on occasion
> been (mis-?)understood by some porters to mean meriting warnings, or slated
> for expurgation, or both.  Lacking clearer understanding, I'd rather not
> see that occur here.
>
> But more importantly, while not at the tip of my fingers, I'm *pretty* sure I
> recall certain operations that would be either more syntactically elaborate or
> even simply impossible without the $#{ EXPR_FOR_ARRAY_NAME_OR_REF } notation.
>
> I did say "pretty" sure, though, so perhaps I may be wrong.  Examples either
> way are welcome.
>
> --tom
>

Crap, this means that the text is not clear enough yet.  $#{
EXPR_FOR_ARRAY_NAME_OR_REF } is not being deprecated, the $# variable
was removed (in 5.10).  I proposed adding an entry for $# because new
users are finding it hard to discover the meaning of $#array from the
documentation (they seem to be tending to look in perlvar, perldsc,
and perllol, but not perldata.  Perhaps changing

C<$#> is also used as sigil, which, when prepended on the name of an
array gives the index of the last element in that array.

to

C<$#> is still allowed to be used as sigil, which, when prepended on
the name of an array gives the index of the last element in that array.

would clear this up?

-- 
Chas. Owens
wonkden.net
The most important skill a programmer can have is the ability to read.