But what if my program already has a get_string() function or an %N hash, and I add this module after the fact?
Well, so what? You _do_ know the working of Perl, don't you? Then you _do_ know that if you do: 
    use Module ();

[download]
the import() routine isn't called, and nothing will be exported. In which case, you can still use the function by calling it like: 
    Module::get_string ()

[download]
But a name clash is an exceptional case - normally you don't have a name clash (I've been programming Perl for over 6 years now, I cannot recall ever having had a name clash problem), and you can just use the short get_string. But with a class method, you have to use Module -> sub, even if it's not necessary.
The OO isn't really pointless. It's happening either way-- exporting symbols without being asked to do so is just a sneaky way of concealing it is all.
Exporting symbols without being asked is only a sneaky way if there isn't an easy way to avoid it. All you need to do is ask to _not_ import anything. That takes a whopping two characters. A module author using Exporter gives the programmer a choice - a module author using OO to avoid name clashes doesn't. I know who acts Perlish, and it ain't the latter programmer.

As for the %N of Lingua::EN::Numbers::Easy, let me quote from the manual: 

       By default, "Lingua::EN::Numbers::Easy" exports a hash
       "%N" to the importing package. Also, by default, "Lin-
       gua::EN::Numbers::Easy" uses the British mode of "Lin-
       gua::EN::Numbers". Both defaults can be changed by
       optional arguments to the "use Lingua::EN::Numbers::Easy;"
       statement.
   
       The first argument determines the parsing mode of "Lin-
       gua::EN::Numbers".  Currently, "Lingua::EN::Numbers" sup-
       ports British and American.  The second argument deter-
       mines the name of the hash in the importing package.

           use Lingua::EN::Numbers::Easy qw /American %nums/;
    
       would use American parsing mode, and "%nums" as the tied
       hash.
If %N gives you a name clash, just use any other suitable name. OO isn't the only way of solving name clash problems!

Abigail

In reply to Re: Use modules or roll your own? by Abigail-II
in thread Use modules or roll your own? by kvale

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