See, the thing is that without use strict you can't be sure that _all_ of your variables are declared. You may have missed one or two.

Yes, and? Is that a bad thing for a script has been working for some time already?

Well that all depends on how well the program has been tested. Just because it's been running successfully for some time, that doesn't mean that it's been down every possible execution path. There could be a big bug ready to bite you on the very next run.

And I'm not saying that use strict will necessarily find that bug. But it's one tool that is great for preventing some particular classes of bugs.

"use strict" is a tool, not an end to it self. And it isn't a magic wand that will create correct programs for you.

You're absolutely right. And I hope I never gave the impression that I thought otherwise.

--
<http://www.dave.org.uk>

"The first rule of Perl club is you do not talk about Perl club."
-- Chip Salzenberg