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About this quote

What does it mean?
The variable $[ is as ancient and rare as a coelacanth, far larger than a mastodon.
In plain terms
$[ is a relic, like an ancient fish, not a massive animal.
What can you take from it?
Treat $[ as a legacy feature.

Where it applies

  • maintaining old scripts
  • code reviews

Putting it to work

  • avoid using $[ in new code
  • document its quirks

Questions to consider

  • When is it okay to use $[?
  • How to modernize code with $[?

Another view

Legacy features can still be useful in specific contexts.

More from Larry Wall

  1. Call me bored, but don't call me boring.

    Permalink to quote #77
  2. We question most of the mantras around here periodically, in case you hadn't noticed. :-)

    Permalink to quote #79
  3. Of course, I reserve the right to make wholly stupid changes to Perl if I think they improve the language. :-)

    Permalink to quote #76

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