# Command-line
(my $x = shift) or die $syntax;
(my $y = shift) or die $syntax;

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One small problem with this approach is that it does not allow zero as an input. You have to say something like: 

die $syntax if ! defined (my $x = shift);

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...which is a little more clumsy, since the important part ($x = shift) is way off to the side.

In reply to Re^2: a simple exercise in readability by kyle
in thread a simple exercise in readability by apotheon

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