Re: RFC 109 (v1) Less line noise - let's get rid of @%

[Jon Ericson]

John Porter wrote:
> Mike Pastore wrote:
> Highlander variables acknowledge the fact that all variable types (scalar,
> array, hash) are simply objects.  Objects of different classes, sure; but
> still just objects.  

Not in Perl.

> You get no visual help in cases like
> 
>         $dog->bark();
>         $cat->scratch();
> 
> as to what $dog and $cat are, nor what bark or scratch do.  You, as
> programmer, need to know elsehow what bark does, and whether it's what
> you want.  

$dog and $cat are objects.  $dog can bark and $cat can scratch.  The
author of the module (Zoo::Animal?) should have documented these
methods.

> Analogously, for variables of (perl) class "array", you
> need to know that "push" is a method, and that
> 
>         push var, things;
> 
> does what you know it does.  It doesn't help anyone to write "@var".

push is _not_ a method.  @var is not an object.  Perl is not Python with
funny variable prefixes.

Jon
-- 
Knowledge is that which remains when what is
learned is forgotten. - Mr. King