Re: Re: Re: (re:x5 use strict....)$a and $b should be in perlvar

$a and $b are not Perl predefined variables. So they do not belong into perlvar :-)
They are only of special use and meaning in a sort. So one might consider the occurance of $a and $b oustide of that as an error, but if that would raise an error you'd loose the ability to write custom sort subs.
Regarding your notes on the perl manpages, do you think that the unix manpages are better organized?
Well I think, if one is going to learn perl $a and $b should be noted along with the usage of strict, so one always remembers, that $a and $b will be used by a sort and so one better does not use them unless one explicitely wants to.
Having said that I think $a and $b are noted in the right place in the right document in a good (but worth improving) documentation.

Have a nice day
All decision is left to your taste

Comment on Re: Re: Re: (re:x5 use strict....)$a and $b should be in perlvar

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: Re: Re: (re:x5 use strict....)$a and $b should be in perlvar by demerphq (Chancellor) on Feb 28, 2002 at 13:37 UTC
<Confusion> How do you reconcile $a and $b are not Perl predefined variables. So they do not belong into perlvar :-) with They are only of special use and meaning in a sort. So one might consider the occurance of $a and $b oustide of that as an error, but if that would raise an error you'd loose the ability to write custom sort subs. The very fact that neither $a or $b need to be defined suggests to me that they are predeclared by perl itself. The fact that they are special only in the context of a sort function (which is nebulously defined BTW) which I agree is unlike the other perlvars does not mean they arent special. If anything it just means they are _more_ special. ;-) </Confusion> Regarding your notes on the perl manpages, do you think that the unix manpages are better organized? No, nor are Microsofts. But thats not an argument by my book. Perl is amazingly well documented (IMO) but improving them is on ongoing task that should be supported (also IMO) I didnt say that $a and $b _shouldnt_ be documented in the places they are, but merely that they should _also_ be documented in perlvar (perhaps with reference to the other documentation.) Yves / DeMerphq -- When to use Prototypes? Advanced Sorting - GRT - Guttman Rosler Transform	[reply]

Replies are listed 'Best First'.

Re: Re: Re: Re: (re:x5 use strict....)$a and $b should be in perlvar
by demerphq (Chancellor) on Feb 28, 2002 at 13:37 UTC

How do you reconcile

$a and $b are not Perl predefined variables. So they do not belong into perlvar :-)

with

They are only of special use and meaning in a sort. So one might consider the occurance of $a and $b oustide of that as an error, but if that would raise an error you'd loose the ability to write custom sort subs.

The very fact that neither $a or $b need to be defined suggests to me that they are predeclared by perl itself. The fact that they are special only in the context of a sort function (which is nebulously defined BTW) which I agree is unlike the other perlvars does not mean they arent special. If anything it just means they are _more_ special. ;-)

</Confusion>

Regarding your notes on the perl manpages, do you think that the unix manpages are better organized?

No, nor are Microsofts. But thats not an argument by my book. Perl is amazingly well documented (IMO) but improving them is on ongoing task that should be supported (also IMO)

I didnt say that $a and $b _shouldnt_ be documented in the places they are, but merely that they should _also_ be documented in perlvar (perhaps with reference to the other documentation.)

Yves / DeMerphq
--
When to use Prototypes?
Advanced Sorting - GRT - Guttman Rosler Transform

[reply]