Well, it isn't very new. It wasn't there in 5.001 but then "require VERSION" and "require Module VERSION" weren't either. There all were in 5.004. Unfortunately I don't have any versions between to check. But perl*delta.pod seems to imply that "use VERSION" and "use Module VERSION" were added at 5.004 and "require VERSION" before that.

The docs could be updated to say BEGIN { require Module VERSION; import Module LIST; } rather than what you propose. (: Use perlbug to submit patches to documentation.

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")

In reply to (tye)Re2: Overriding Exporter::import by tye
in thread Overriding Exporter::import by John M. Dlugosz

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