This convention of using a string to specify not only the file to open, but the how you want it open is thankfully on the way out. Here's an example where there's no string interpolation required to simply open a file:
open($foo, '<', $foo_file);
Throwing in extra syntax could start a sort of file-handle mini-language. Anything that makes Perl look more like line-noise is probably a bad idea.

For any odd parameters, maybe something like DBI, such as in this hypothetical example:
open($foo, '<', $foo_file, { sequential => 1 });
This could even be used to cram in permission bits, temporary flags, or what have you.

In reply to Re: open() enhancements by tadman
in thread open() enhancements by John M. Dlugosz

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