# off hand code

sub make_greeting {
    # Return a greeting string, by default greet the world.

    croak "Bad parameter count to make_greeting" 
        unless @_ <= 1 and DEBUG;
    return "Hello " . ( $_[0] or "world" ) .".";
}

##</code><code>##

function:  
    name: make_greeting
    scope: intra-language
    descr: Make a greeting to designee or, by default, world.
    doubts: Locale issues await. Low-level func.--orphan?!
    parameter count: 0-1
    parameters:
         param: name
             ord: 1
             type: string
             descr: Name of recipient of greeting
    error: die
    languages: perl
    type: string
    perl:  return "Hello " . ( $_[0] or "world" ) .".";