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About this quote

What does it mean?
The author recalls his daughter looking at Perl code and joking that it looks like profanity.
In plain terms
His daughter thought the code looked like swearing.
What can you take from it?
Even non‑programmers can find code confusing or offensive.

Where it applies

  • explaining code to beginners
  • teaching programming basics

Putting it to work

  • use clear naming
  • add comments

Questions to consider

  • How can code be made less intimidating?
  • What makes code look ‘dirty’?

Another view

The joke may not translate to those unfamiliar with Perl.

More from Larry Wall

  1. Just put in another goto, and then it'll be readable. :-)

    Permalink to quote #189

  2. Y'know, there are other possibilities if we assume that filenames are UTF-8...yikes...wait, put down that meat cleaver! Aieeee!!!

    Permalink to quote #191

  3. I would estimate that the number of programs it breaks in the world will be less than 10. As long as one of those 10 isn't CGI.pm, we're probably okay.

    Permalink to quote #188

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