If an end of file instead of a newline would be allowed, then you could write (non-empty) perl quine in just 22 bytes. I suppose the developpers didn't want to tale the blame for adding one more language feature just for obfus.

In reply to Re: Why do here-docs have to end with a newline, not EOF? by ambrus
in thread Why do here-docs have to end with a newline, not EOF? by Cody Pendant

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