Strangely, using my $l=$_[3]-- and using a(@_[0,2,1,3]) etc. doesn't work at all. @_ is not localised ($_3 ends up very negative and the solution becomes deeply recursive), which makes me wonder if the above solution works. I haven't compared the output to the original solution's output.

from perlsub:
The array @_ is a local array, but its elements are aliases for the actual scalar parameters.

Basically, if you think about it, @_ has to be localized. Otherwise if you called a function inside a function (something I hope most of us do) your @_ array would be wiped out, leaving you with the parameters you sent into the child function you just called. The particular behavior your seeing is probably becuase the @_ array contains aliases to scalars.

Second, using 0 based discs is okay, it's easy enough for the user to add 1 in their head (or to start thinking like a cs person.)

Third, and this is where it gets interesting, when removing all the whitespace I can I get (for your solution):

sub a{if(my$l=pop){a(@_[0,2,1],$l-1);print"Move disc $l from $_[0] to 
+$_[2]
";a(@_[1,0,2],$l-1);}}a 'A'..'C',pop;
[download]

Which just happens to be the same amount of space as (my solution):

sub a{my$l=pop;a(@_[0,2,1],--$l)."Move disc $l from $_[0] to $_[2]
".a(@_[1,0,2],$l)if$l>0;}print a 'A'..'C',pop;
[download]

so it seems that both solutions are (atleast as far as this little experiment goes) equal. My goal is to squeeze everything that I have now down to 115 or 110 by Tuesday.

Oh and I have compared our outputs, and with the exception of the disc number (mine being one less than yours) they are exactly the same.

EDIT:
perlsub not perlvar

EDIT2:
pop instead of shift to remove chars

EDIT3 (10/26/04):
Best I've done, modifing jasper's code, is 111 chars.

sub a{if(my$l=pop){a(@_[0,2,1],--$l);print"Move disc $l from $_[0] to 
+$_[2]
";a(@_[1,0,2],$l);}}a 'A'..'C',pop;
[download]

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