Re: [MacPerl] Using ' instead of :: as the package separator

[Ken Williams <ken@forum.swarthmore.edu>]

webmaster@mycoinfo.com (Brian McNett) wrote:
>>I was wondering why so many people in the MacPerl world use the single-quote
>>instead of the double-colon as the package separator.  Is it just a needless
>>historical relic from the Perl 4 days, or is there some style guide out there
>>that I don't know about?  David's certainly not the only person who does it.
>>
>>I suppose it fits with the .pl extension on libraries and the require()ing
>>thereof. =)
>
>Needless historic relic from Perl4. StandardFile.pl is depricated in 
>favor of Mac::StandardFile, Mac::Files, and Mac::MoreFiles. In this 
>instance, the writer knows about StandardFile.pl, but is either unaware 
>of Mac::StandardFile, Mac::Files, and Mac::MoreFiles, or is either 
>untutored in their use or afraid to delve into it (due to the repeated 
>mantra posted at the bottom of all the toolbox modules (don't laugh, this 
>DOES frighten some people off!)).

You mean the stuff at the top?  Absolutely, it scared the shit out of me.  Why
do we need the "YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED" text?  Couldn't we just warn people? 
Without trying to actually *scare* them?  

I found it rather elitist too, actually.  There are hardly any docs distributed
with the modules, and there's a big sign posted in them that says I'll screw up
my computer if I try to use them.  No, thanks.  I program for recreation, but
this doesn't sound like much fun.

Keep in mind that I know lots of people use these modules and they work quite
well, but the docs do have sort of a bristly air about them.  I've heard other
people talk about the dearth of docs for the toolbox modules - do documentation
changes need to go through the busy Matthias, or can the rest of us make
changes (I'm unqualified myself)?

>The old syntax still works, mostly for backward compatibility. However, 
>he could have easily have used:
>
>my $dir = StandardFile::GetFolder('Select a folder', "::");
>
>Also note you don't need the '&'.

Right - when I ventured into MacPerl land and saw that these Perl4isms were
still being used here, I thought I'd stepped back into the '60s.  =)




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