Re^2: List::Compare

Until I recently saw a reference to this discussion thread in a CPAN review of List::Compare, I was unaware that my module was being discussed in the Monastery. So today I'd like to share some thoughts on the issues raised. As these issues were raised by various monks, I'll reply to the individual threads today but try to integrate these comments in the talk I am giving on List::Compare at YAPC::NA in Buffalo two weeks from today.

Re: Dragonchild on List::Compare not working with references:

The real-world production problems for which I originally developed List::Compare did not include lists of Perl references. The module was not designed to handle them and has never been tested against them.

If you can suggest a way for the module to detect when a list passed to the constructor (or a function in List::Compare::Functional) contains a reference, I will be happy to generate a 'die' at that point. Otherwise, I'll simply include a warning against this in the next revision of the documentation.

Re: Dragonchild on List::Compare not preserving order

I don't see any particular reason why a report on the the intersection, union, etc., of two or more lists should come back in any particular order. Whatever order the original lists had is untouched; the order of the set comparisons is irrelevant. As the documentation says at a couple of points, List::Compare was designed to answer the question: Was this item seen in that list? Pure and simple. In what position in the list the item was seen is a question for a different module to answer. Jim Keenan

Comment on Re^2: List::Compare

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Re^3: List::Compare
by dragonchild (Archbishop) on Jun 04, 2004 at 15:06 UTC

That's perfectly fine, but you don't mention that in your documentation. Either you handle them or you make it perfectly clear that you don't handle them. This is a very important point.

As for figuring out if a list contains a reference ... what's wrong with grep { ref } @list?

I don't see any particular reason why a report on the the intersection, union, etc., of two or more lists should come back in any particular order.

If you were dealing with sets, then you would be correct. However, if I'm working with lists, I expect that the ordering property of lists would be maintained in every single action. map and grep maintain order. Your functions, to me, are in the same vein.

If I want to find out "Is this item in that grouping?", I would consider that a set operation, if I'm using a module. Sets are intrinsically unordered.

The question also isn't a matter of what position in the list a given item was seen. If you are saying @list3 = intersection(\@list1, \@list2);, I would assume (because it's not otherwise stated in the docs) that @list3 has the elements in the order seen in @list1. Essentially, intersection() would be written as so:

sub intersection
{
    my ($l1, $l2) = @_;

    my %l2;
    undef @l2{@$l2};

    my @l3 = grep { exists $l2{$item} } @l1;

    return wantarray ? @l3 : \@l3;
}
[download]

That preserves the order. If I don't care about order, I should be using sets.

Now, you're wondering what the big deal is - most people wouldn't care. And, you'd be right. Except, some people will and it doesn't cost a lot to make it right.

------
We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

Then there are Damian modules.... *sigh* ... that's not about being less-lazy -- that's about being on some really good drugs -- you know, there is no spoon. - flyingmoose

I shouldn't have to say this, but any code, unless otherwise stated, is untested

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