Re: What does

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Re^2: What does _ mean? by runrig (Abbot) on Feb 02, 2009 at 20:26 UTC
And what does PBP say? To make unnecessary calls to stat (I hope not)?	[reply]
Re^3: What does _ mean? by jvector (Friar) on Feb 03, 2009 at 14:27 UTC
I looked up '_' in PBP's index and it referred me to (underscore). Looked up 'underscore', subtopic 'best practice' : p.473: Use underscores to improve the readability of long numbers. No reference to the file operations in any of the other subtopics in the index either. This signature will be ready by Easter	[reply]
Re^4: What does _ mean? by ikegami (Patriarch) on Feb 03, 2009 at 19:50 UTC
The index mentions `stat`. But like underscore, there's no relation to the topic at hand.	[reply] [d/l]
Re^3: What does _ mean? by BenHopkins (Sexton) on Jun 21, 2010 at 21:31 UTC
It doesn't specifically address this, but I'd apply the general principle of commenting any obscure usage. Of course, one man's obscure is another man's clear. I ran into this exact thing in an old program I had to modify and added this comment after figuring out what it meant: `######### FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT _ IS!!! # QUOTE: # # If any of the file tests (or either the stat() or lstat() operators +) are given # the special filehandle consisting of a solitary underline, then the +stat structure # of the previous file test (or stat operator) is used, saving a syste +m call. # # Isn't that something? All I gotta do now figure out what or where i +s the previous # test??` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: What does _ mean? by ikegami (Patriarch) on Feb 03, 2009 at 19:51 UTC
the whole book was about writing clear code. How is "`_`" unclear? It has one very specific use.	[reply] [d/l]
Re^3: What does _ mean? by pileofrogs (Priest) on Feb 03, 2009 at 23:30 UTC
How about obscure?	[reply]
Re^4: What does _ mean? by ikegami (Patriarch) on Feb 03, 2009 at 23:38 UTC
Is `-d` obscure? It's documented in the same place as `-d`. It's only used by `-d` and siblings. And it should be used just about everywhere `-d` is needed.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^5: What does _ mean? by pileofrogs (Priest) on Feb 04, 2009 at 00:52 UTC
It's a question of Perl Culture by massa (Hermit) on Feb 04, 2009 at 11:12 UTC
Re^6: What does _ mean? by ikegami (Patriarch) on Feb 04, 2009 at 02:08 UTC
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Re^2: What does _ mean? by bichonfrise74 (Vicar) on Feb 03, 2009 at 01:57 UTC
What would be the "best practice" in this case? How would this be re-written?	[reply]
Re^3: What does _ mean? by runrig (Abbot) on Feb 03, 2009 at 17:13 UTC
pileofrogs is probably confusing the "_" file test operation argument with implicit usage of the `"$_"` variable, which is discouraged by some. "_" used appropriately as a file test argument is fine.	[reply] [d/l]