> By RFC 21, it looks like the call would be
>
> if ( want 'LIST' ) {
> $num_to_return = want;
> # do stuff
> }
or, more efficiently:
if ( ($num_to_return) = want 'LIST' ) {
# do stuff
}
> However, at one time the discussion had implied that in a scalar
> context, you could use want as so:
>
> if ( want eq 'LIST' ) { }
That does not work. If I ever implied it, I plead temporary insanity.
> That is, it doesn't return the expectant count as arg1, but rather what
> is wanted. This syntax I actually prefer, since you could easily switch
> very quickly like so:
>
> $want = want;
> return $want eq 'LIST' ? do_list_stuff :
> $want eq 'SCALAR' ? do_scalar_stuff :
> ...
In Perl 6 we switch with C<switch>es, mister! ("Muro volente", of course ;-)
switch (want) {
case 'LIST' { do_list_stuff }
case 'SCALAR' { do_scalar_stuff }
}
> It also allows you to have a function which
> automatically is generated or dispatched:
>
> my $func = lc want . "_func";
> return &$func(@_);
The LIST/SCALAR/VOID distinction is always the second value returned
(see the examples in the RFC). So your dispatcher is:
my $func = lc (want)[1] . "_func";
return &$func(@_);
> Since RFC 21 is still on v1, my question is: Which is it?
The one you I<don't> like (as usual ;-)
> if in a scalar context want() returned a polymorphic object:
Retro me, Satanas!!!
Damian
