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About this quote

What does it mean?
Larry Wall jokes that real computers provide a rename() system call.
In plain terms
He points out that actual OSes have a rename function.
What can you take from it?
Use the built‑in rename() when you need to change file names.

Where it applies

  • writing scripts that rename files
  • debugging file operations

Putting it to work

  • call rename() directly
  • avoid reinventing file‑rename logic

Questions to consider

  • Why do programmers enjoy pointing out obvious OS features?
  • How does knowing system calls affect script design?

Another view

Not all environments expose a rename() call, so the joke may not apply everywhere.

More from Larry Wall

  1. And don't tell me there isn't one bit of difference between null and space, because that's exactly how much difference there is. :-)

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  2. Chip Salzenberg sent me a complete patch to add System V IPC (msg, sem and shm calls), so I added them. If that bothers you, you can always undefine them in co…

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  3. Although the Perl Slogan is There's More Than One Way to Do It, I hesitate to make 10 ways to do something. :-)

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