Rule 1, don't call them rules. =) Guidelines is a much better term. There are times and places to violate all of these. Here are the guidelines I try and live by (usually failing miserably).

• -w while testing.
• use strict; if more than 10 lines.
• Minimize file scope variables.
• Avoid subs that have more than 40 lines of code, keep it to 25 if you can.
• Use verbs for subroutines, use nouns for variables, be descriptive and consistent.
• Leave behind clear code, use parens on subs, use arrows to dereference rather than shortcuts, comment on behavior and logic rather than flow, beware hidden behavior and void context magic.

Hidden behavoir like non-obvious return values can eat you alive. I try and avoid subs that both modify a parameter handed to them and return a real value. I try to use return $blah; so that people don't add a print at the end of my sub and suddenly it ALWAYS returns a "1". =)

--
$you = new YOU;
honk() if $you->love(perl)

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