Re^2: returning large arrays from functions

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Re^3: returning large arrays from functions by ikegami (Patriarch) on Nov 19, 2010 at 07:55 UTC
You seem to have misunderstood what I said. Whether copying occurs in an array to array assignment or not depends on whether Perl does COW or not. If it does, copying can be avoided. If it doesn't copying must occur. It doesn't, so copying must occur. And thus, the OP's question is answered.	[reply]
Re^4: returning large arrays from functions by Anonymous Monk on Nov 19, 2010 at 08:14 UTC
Perl could recognise that the contents of the internal array, once transfered to the external array, will be garbage collected, and avoid both the copying and the GC, by simple transferring the already allocated and populated internal storage of the internal array to the external array. COW does not come into it.	[reply]
Re^5: returning large arrays from functions by ikegami (Patriarch) on Nov 19, 2010 at 08:22 UTC
I see that as a special case of copy on write. COW refers to multiple objects sharing the same data storage until one changes. Copying the pointer over shares the data storage. What's special is that it never reaches the point where copying is necessary. If you'd rather use a different word for it, pretend I used that word.	[reply]
Re^6: returning large arrays from functions by Anonymous Monk on Nov 19, 2010 at 09:27 UTC
Re^7: returning large arrays from functions by ikegami (Patriarch) on Nov 19, 2010 at 14:20 UTC
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Re^7: returning large arrays from functions by ikegami (Patriarch) on Nov 19, 2010 at 14:21 UTC