Not true. 
use Data::Dumper;

[download]
is the same as 
BEGIN {
   require Data::Dumper;
   Data::Dumper::->import();
}

[download]

Like psini already said, the problem is that Perl already had to decide whether Dumper is a function call or not before use Dumper; was encountered.

  1. Compile my %test_hash = ( a => { b=> 'c' } );
  2. Compile print Dumper %test_hash; (Dumper is treated as a *Dumper since no function named Dumper was found)
  3. Compile use Data::Dumper;
  4. Execute require Data::Dumper;
  5. Execute Data::Dumper::->import();
  6. [ Script has been compiled. Now start executing it ]
  7. Execute my %test_hash = ( a => { b=> 'c' } );
  8. Execute print(*Dumper %test_hash);

You can only omit parens on a function call to a function that's already been declared (but not necessarily defined) or if you annotate the function call with &.

Update: Added list showing execution flow.

In reply to Re^2: Order of 'use' statement in Data::Dumper by ikegami
in thread Order of 'use' statement in Data::Dumper by ~~David~~

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