Doing linear scans over an associative array is like trying to club someone to death with a loaded Uzi.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The quote likens scanning an associative array to using an overkill weapon, highlighting inefficiency.
- In plain terms
- Scanning an associative array is like using a loaded Uzi to club someone.
- What can you take from it?
- Choose appropriate algorithms for data structures.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is a simple approach sufficient?
- How do you decide algorithm complexity?
Another view
Sometimes linear scans are acceptable for small data.
More from Larry Wall
You have to admit that it's difficult to misplace the Perl sources. :-)
Permalink to quote #58 Well, enough clowning around. Perl is, in intent, a cleaned up and summarized version of that wonderful semi-natural language known as 'Unix'.
Permalink to quote #60 What is the sound of Perl? Is it not the sound of a wall that people have stopped banging their heads against?
Permalink to quote #57
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