For the record, strict doesn't complain about the other special variables either. $b is one of many. It just happens to have a name that is a little less effective in observing the Principle of Least Astonishment.

If the sort variables were designed with that principle in mind, they would have more unusual names, since they're special or unusual themselves, lest they give the impression of not being special cases of scalar variables. Of course that would require breaking existing usages.


Dave

In reply to Re: strict's behavior within subroutines? by davido
in thread strict's behavior within subroutines? by dasnippa

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