Code in a class block behaves like code in a package block: It is evaluated once. So last_one_was_bad is executed once. The next_count++ statement is executed on every creation of a WithACounter object (if next_count was flagged as a :param, then it would be executed only if the caller didn't specify it).
Also: it looks like the my variables there are essentially "class static" members — so called in other languages e.g. C#. Is that an accurate characterization?

Pretty much yes. There is a discussion whether the class system needs its own syntax for "class static" members, but this is about convenience details which are not yet implemented: A "field" in Object::Pad can get attributes like :reader which will create appropriate accessor functions. You might want to permit a field $foo :static :reader, but there was some opposition against my $foo :reader which would make the syntax of the existing my keyword depend on the context. Damian Conway points out that a my variable is a private implementation detail, but a static field with a reader is part of the class interface (and maybe subject to inheritance). As far as Perl 5.38 is concerned, the distinction doesn't exist.

In reply to Re: perl 5.38: can the body of a class declaration contain arbitrary code? by haj
in thread perl 5.38: can the body of a class declaration contain arbitrary code? by jdporter

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