Can't use string ("main::STDOUT") as a symbol ref while "strict refs" in use

Anonymous Monk has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Eh, HUH!?

$ perl -E " print {select()} 6 "
6

$ perl -Mstrict -le " print {select()} 6 "
Can't use string ("main::STDOUT") as a symbol ref while "strict refs" 
+in use at -e line 1.
[download]

/headslap

Comment on Can't use string ("main::STDOUT") as a symbol ref while "strict refs" in use Download Code

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Re: Can't use string ("main::STDOUT") as a symbol ref while "strict refs" in use by GlitchMr (Sexton) on Aug 25, 2012 at 18:27 UTC
select returns currently selected filehandle. Until you will select other filehandle, it's `main::STDOUT`. Because it's bareword filehandle, it's returned as string. When printing to it, `print` notices it's string and `strict 'refs'` is enabled, so it dies. Instead, you can try workaround of using `IO::Handle` method. With Perl older than 5.14, you have to `use IO::Handle` - it's optional is Perl 5.14. `select->print(6)`	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Can't use string ("main::STDOUT") as a symbol ref while "strict refs" in use by Mr. Muskrat (Canon) on Aug 26, 2012 at 17:50 UTC
GlitchMr is correct however there is another way (this is Perl after all... TIMTOWTDI). Just disable strict refs. `perl -Mstrict -M-strict=refs -e "print {select()} 6" 6` [download] Long version: `use strict; no strict 'refs' print {select()} 6;` [download]	[reply] [d/l] [select]