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About this quote

What does it mean?
I avoid writing full sentences myself, and I also avoid using goto.
In plain terms
I don’t write full sentences or use goto.
What can you take from it?
Prefer clearer constructs over goto and verbose syntax.

Where it applies

  • script writing
  • code review
  • teaching programming

Putting it to work

  • use structured loops
  • write concise statements

Questions to consider

  • What are the trade‑offs of avoiding goto?
  • When might a full sentence be useful in code?

Another view

Avoiding goto may limit low‑level control in some cases.

More from Larry Wall

  1. Sometimes we choose the generalization. Sometimes we don't.

    Permalink to quote #105
  2. It's appositival, if it's there. And it doesn't have to be there. And it's really obvious that it's there when it's there.

    Permalink to quote #107
  3. Part of language design is perturbing the proposed feature in various directions to see how it might generalize in the future.

    Permalink to quote #104

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