Is there any reason why you can't just have a function available for the inexperienced devs to convert the recieved array into a hash if they aren't happy with using an array?
eg
my $obj_array = do_stuff_from_my_module();
my $obj_hash = convert_masems_array_to_a_hash($obj_array);
#then the valid code options would be
my $name = $obj_array->[2]; # Assume name is the 3rd element
#
# OR!!!
#
my $name = $obj_hash->{ name };

[download]

Your other option could be to use a pseudo hash but I haven't really used them myself for anything significant.

In reply to Re: Scalar ref acting as simulatenous hash and array? by Anonymous Monk
in thread Scalar ref acting as simulatenous hash and array? by Masem

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