I'm trying to select the maximum element from a list according to some arbitrary criteria.

Basically what I'd like to be able to do is something like 

$max_el = max { complex_calculation($_) } @list;

[download]

and have $max_el be the element for which complex_calculation reported the highest value

Unfortunately the max in List::Util doesn't take a block.

I was able to cobble something together with List::Util::reduce but this seems less than ideal. 

$max = reduce { complex_calculation($a) > complex_calculation($b) ? $a
+ : $b };

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My problems with this approach are
1.) complex_calculation() is called twice for each element in the list
2.) the code is less readable & less concise than it could be
3.) this seems like I'm reinventing the wheel.

Does anyone know of a CPAN module or library that will encapsulate this type of functionality?

I've googled by couldn't find anything.

Thanks,

In reply to List::Util max with block by dlarochelle

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