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About this quote

What does it mean?
Automatically converting scalar values to lists can cause many problems.
In plain terms
Changing single values to lists often leads to disaster.
What can you take from it?
Avoid implicit data-type conversions that can break code.

Where it applies

  • when refactoring code
  • in language design

Putting it to work

  • use explicit conversions
  • test edge cases

Questions to consider

  • What safeguards can prevent such conversion errors?

Another view

The statement is broad and lacks concrete examples.

More from Larry Wall

  1. P.S. I suppose I really should be nicer to people today, considering I'll be singing in Billy Graham's choir tonight... :-)

    Permalink to quote #124
  2. And we can always supply them with a program that makes identical files into links to a single file.

    Permalink to quote #126
  3. Oh, wait, that was Randal...nevermind...

    Permalink to quote #123

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  3. Premature optimization is the root of all evil (or at least most of it) in programming.

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