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About this quote

What does it mean?
He argues that while limiting capabilities can prevent abuse, it shouldn't be a reason to exclude them from Perl.
In plain terms
Removing capabilities may stop abuse, but Perl should keep them.
What can you take from it?
Balance security with functionality in language design.

Where it applies

  • software architecture
  • language policy

Putting it to work

  • provide safe defaults
  • allow opt‑in features

Questions to consider

  • When is it justified to omit a capability?
  • How can Perl mitigate misuse?

Another view

Trade‑offs can be complex; no one‑size‑fits‑all.

More from Larry Wall

  1. I was about to say, 'Avoid fame like the plague,' but you know, they can cure the plague with penicillin these days.

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  2. Oh, wait, that was Randal...nevermind...

    Permalink to quote #123
  3. It's getting harder and harder to think out loud. One of these days someone's gonna go off and kill Thomas a'Becket for me...

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