Additionally: Perl 5 docs don't run into this because perl 5 has only 3 types: scalar, list, hash.
Perl 6 has lots of types, each of which has its own behavior. We use roles to package up common behaviors. Positional is the role for "can be indexed" / "understands []". Don't just assume you know what Positional is because you know its English meaning; look at what it actually does, and you will find the [] documentation. On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 9:13 PM Peter Scott <pe...@psdt.com> wrote: > On 9/26/2018 3:21 PM, ToddAndMargo wrote: > > > > I use words all the time. I never would have figured it out > > from > > > > multi method words(Str:D $input: $limit = Inf --> Positional) > > > > Do your really think any beginner would be able to figure out > > "words" from the above? > > If the beginner had studied the metasyntax of function prototypes, > probably. But this is not necessarily for beginners, this is reference > documentation, which has to serve a purpose unencumbered by pedagogical > weight. This documentation is not a tutorial, it is autogenerated. You > are relatively unique in insisting that the reference documentation also > function as a beginners' roadmap, so you are going to experience this > kind of frustration repeatedly. > > I taught Perl 5 trainings for many years in addition to authoring books, > videos, and courses on same, and the difference between what is best for > learning and what is best for reference is stark. I heard about people > who claim to have taught themselves Perl 5 from the Camel instead of the > Llama, but they are few and far between, and in any case, most of the > Camel contains exposition, if dense. You're looking just at something > corresponding to the list of functions. I honestly think you'll get > further forcing yourself to plow through the new Learning Perl 6 book > than these random access forays into reference specs. brian just spent > two years of intense effort arranging it to fit precisely the graduated > path your questions tell me you need. > -- brandon s allbery kf8nh allber...@gmail.com
