Re^3: Hard syntax error or disambiguable parsing?

but for $i ( 0 .. 5 ) is not a foreach loop as defined in perlsyn.

It's good to know that someone else around here actually reads the docs--and arrives at the same interpretation as me.

Personally, the whole 'unavoidable implicit localisation' of for loop variables smacks of an accidental implementation bug that got post-facto ligitimisation via Marketeer Maintainenance: The re-branding of bugs as features.

There doesn't seem to be any logical reason why an existing variable shouldn't be used (unlocalised) as the loop iterator, given that if a strictly loop scoped iterator is required, the inline-my version achieves that perfectly.

This would allow several common uses that currently require extra steps to achieve. For example, retaining the information of how far the loop iterated if it is terminated early via last, that currently requires an extra variable and another assignment.

If this was an explicit decision--rather than an accidental happenstance as suggested by some of the comments in the source files--then it would be good to see the reasons laid out.

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.

"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

Comment on Re^3: Hard syntax error or disambiguable parsing?

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Re^4: Hard syntax error or disambiguable parsing? by TimToady (Parson) on Jan 30, 2009 at 19:11 UTC
Personally, the whole 'unavoidable implicit localisation' of for loop variables smacks of an accidental implementation bug that got post-facto ligitimisation via Marketeer Maintainenance: The re-branding of bugs as features. Indeed. The original designer of Perl ought to have repented long ago and designed a better language as penance. `:-)` When I look at this whole discussion, I see: Perl 5: A loop variable is defined as BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH except when BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH except nowadays you should really BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH no it isn't yes it is no it isn't BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH... Perl 6: A loop variable is simply a formal parameter to a block.	[reply]
Re^5: Hard syntax error or disambiguable parsing? by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Jan 30, 2009 at 19:55 UTC
Indeed. When I posted the OP, I really was hoping for a 'use an anonymous block to disambiguate an indirect object' type of fix. The original designer of Perl ought to have repented long ago and designed a better language as penance. :-) Don't be too hard on him. I'm still of the opinion that he did a pretty damn good job with Perl 5. So good in fact that after 7 years of pretty in-depth usage I'm still 'discovering' built-in features that allow one or two statements to do the same job as would take one or two screenfuls in most other languages. What's more, the way the language elements combine to effect those features, they can not have come about by a accident. They had to have been thought about in depth at the design stage, despite the fact that in many cases there are one (or a dozen) modules on CPAN that re-implement those features, (often badly), using one or two (or three) screenfuls. Usually authored by someone who went looking for the feature but failed to recognise the forethought that had gone into providing for it, and simply missed it. As for Perl 6. Raduko seems to be coming along quite nicely. I really hope that the implementation eventually meets up with the authors vision. I can see myself spending twice as long (and more) as its prolonged gestation, exploring all it's facets. And thoroughly enjoying the experience. 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. "Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."	[reply]