in reply to Re^2: Can I please have *simple* modules?
in thread Can I please have *simple* modules?

I don't think that "simple" equals "only doing a few things".

Maybe not, but it helps. Compare what happens when you perldoc POSIX with what happens when you perldoc List::Util.

A cacaphony starts with a single "feep". You have to draw the line.

--
Marvin Humphrey
Rectangular Research ― http://www.rectangular.com

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Re^4: Can I please have *simple* modules?
by Perl Mouse (Chaplain) on Nov 23, 2005 at 20:39 UTC
    Compare what happens when you perldoc POSIX with what happens when you perldoc List::Util.
    Let's see. When I do 'man List::Util', I hit a slash, type the name of the function I want the manual of, hit return, and it appears. When I do 'man POSIX', I hit a slash, type the name of the function I want the manual of, hit return, and it appears.

    No difference. All the functionality of function in either POSIX or List::Util doesn't interfere with each other. That's why POSIX is simple. Sure, it has a lot, but it's still simple.

    Perl --((8:>*
[reply]
      When I do 'man List::Util', I hit a slash, type the name of the function I want the manual of, hit return, and it appears. When I do 'man POSIX', I hit a slash, type the name of the function I want the manual of, hit return, and it appears.

      No difference.

      There's no difference if you know exactly what you're looking for.

      Ovid $ man POSIX | wc -l
    1622
Ovid $ man List::Util | wc -l
     159

      You're assuming the person knows what they're looking for. If they don't and they have only a vague notion that the package in question supplies what they need, it can be a long slog indeed to find the answer. Searching for poorly named functions is harder. Verifying the behavior of complicated functions is harder. I'm not saying shorter/simpler is better, but it's often easier to work with.

      Cheers,
      Ovid

      New address of my CGI Course.

[reply]
        If they don't know what they are looking for, splitting POSIX up into 10 modules doesn't make it any simpler. They will now have to search 10 manuals, and the number of lines of documentation won't decrease.
        Perl --((8:>*
[reply]

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