Unless your array of numbers is huge, I'd use a simple linear search:

sub first { my $aref = shift; $aref->[ $_ ]+1 != $aref->[ $_+1 ] and return $aref->[ $_ ]+1 for 0 .. $#$aref-1; };; @a = 1000..1100;; splice @a, rand(100), 1 for 1 .. 10;; print @a;; 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 +1014 1015 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 + ... print first( \@a );; 1016

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

In reply to Re^3: Next unused sequential number by BrowserUk
in thread Next unused sequential number by Anonymous Monk

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