http://qs321.pair.com?node_id=622905


in reply to Re: Returning undef: The point I would like Damian to reconsider
in thread Returning undef: The point I would like Damian to reconsider

and I don't see that as a bad practice. Works like expected and is documented. The alternative would be to shove the result explicitly through three other subs: 
$thingy -> foo (1,2) -> to_output_channel; 
$string = $thingy -> foo (1,2) -> as_string; 
@lines = $thingy -> foo (1,2) -> as_list;

[download]
which gains me what exactly?
It gains you
  1. explicit clarity of intent
  2. 3 parameterizable output methods
  3. 3 methods which can be re-used or overloaded as needed
  4. The ability to call all 3 output methods, none or any combination simply by mixing/matching method calls.
Should I avoid localtime and roll my own?
Well, no. Try Date::localtime or Time::Local or anything in the DateTime hierarchy.

Carter's compass: I know I'm on the right track when by deleting something, I'm adding functionality
  • Comment on Re^2: Returning undef: The point I would like Damian to reconsider
  • Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^3: Returning undef: The point I would like Damian to reconsider
by shmem (Chancellor) on Jun 22, 2007 at 20:52 UTC
    1. explicit clarity of intent

    I have that on the LHS.

    2. 3 parameterizable output methods
    3. 3 methods which can be re-used or overloaded as needed
    4. The ability to call all 3 output methods, none or any combination simply by mixing/matching method calls.

    No call for those, since that doesn't gain me anything.

    You missed my point. Context awareness is a key concept of Perl. Deprecating context awareness with regard to subroutine return is tantamount to crippling the language.

    Try Date::localtime

    No such module... ;-)

    --shmem 

    _($_=" "x(1<<5)."?\n".q·/)Oo.  G°\        /
                              /\_¯/(q    /
----------------------------  \__(m.====·.(_("always off the crowd"))."·
");sub _{s./.($e="'Itrs `mnsgdq Gdbj O`qkdq")=~y/"-y/#-z/;$e.e && print}
[reply]

In Section Meditations