(@dir0) = readdir(ID) || print "Couldn't read directory contents.\n";

[download]

|| forces scalar context. Your code actually is: 
@dir0 = (readdir(ID) || 1); # assuming print doesn't fail

[download]
What you probably want, is: 
(@dir0 = readdir(ID)) || print "...";

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which is equal to: 
@dir0 = readdir(ID) or print "...";

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(|| and or are not equal: || is tighter (see perlop).)

Update (20020303021949)
In my chatterbox nodelet, I read: crazyinsomniac says readdir fails? mention of -MO=Deparse couldn't hurt ;)
So here it is: 
2;0 juerd@ouranos:~$ perl -MO=Deparse,-p -e'(@dir) = readdir(ID) || pr
+int "X"'
(@dir = (readdir(ID) || print('X')));
-e syntax OK

[download]

The -p adds extra parens. Documentation can be found at B::Deparse. 

++ vs lbh qrpbqrq guvf hfvat n ge va Crey :)
Nabgure bar vs lbh qvq fb jvgubhg ernqvat n znahny svefg.
-- vs lbh hfrq OFQ pnrfne ;)
    - Whreq

In reply to Re: readdir fails? by Juerd
in thread readdir fails? by Anonymous Monk

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