The Best Practices suggest using CPAN modules for more complex data parsing, instead of trying to roll your own. Read the rest of this entry »
PBP: 104 Variable-Width Data
June 25th, 2015PBP: 103 Separated Data
June 22nd, 2015The Book suggests using split to take apart separated data with simple separators. Read the rest of this entry »
PBP 102: Fixed-width Data
June 18th, 2015The PBP suggests we use unpack to take apart fixed-width data. Read the rest of this entry »
PBP: 101 Reversing Scalars
June 15th, 2015The PBP suggests that when you want to reverse a scalar, you explicitly state this with ‘scalar reverse $variable’ instead of just using reverse on it. It suggests this both makes explicit, and regularizes the use, regardless of the context it is called in.
I don’t like this suggestion and don’t feel it is needed, but I won’t object to it because of the clear example in the book that makes it clear how it helps. I find the demand you add a ‘scalar’ all the time because sometimes it’s unclear to be a problem. I’ll probably turn off the critic warning for this, but I won’t say it’s too horrible.
PBP: 100 Reversing Lists
June 11th, 2015Mr. Conway suggets using the reverse builtin when appropriate. This includes with sort, and for counting backwards. Read the rest of this entry »
PBP: 099 Sorting
June 8th, 2015The Best Practices have things to say about many of Perl’s built-in functions. Besides the general advice “use them” – which I agree with – it has some specific suggestions. First up: Sorting Read the rest of this entry »
At YAPC::NA
June 7th, 2015Not only did I make all the arrangements in time, I made my flight and have found the hotel. I am checked in and sitting in a room full of geeks having a hackathon.
It’s a room full of pretty serious computer users. I am not the only one in the room who has configured UUCP, for example.
Fun so far!
PBP: 098 Proofreading
June 1st, 2015It is a Best Practice to check the spelling, syntax, and sanity of your documentation. I agree with this, strongly. Read the rest of this entry »
PBP: 097 Discursive Documentation
May 7th, 2015The PBP suggests a way to put longer blocks of documentation in code, by using the =for or =begin/=end notation in POD. By labeling these with a “formatter” that does not exist, they’ll never be output and are merely ignored by the compiler and for the author’s use. Read the rest of this entry »
PBP: 096 Indicative Documentation
May 4th, 2015The Best Practices suggests that a need for a lot of comments explaining things might indicate that the section of code is confusing and could be written more clearly. Rather than writing words to try and explain it, can the code itself be clearer? Read the rest of this entry »