On Wed, 14 Apr 2004, Juerd wrote: > I propose to use ` as a simple hash subscriptor, as an alternative to {} > and <<>>. It would only be useable for \w+ keys or perhaps -?\w+. As > with methods, a simple "atomic" (term exists only in perlreftut, afaix, > but I don't know another word to describe a simple scalar variable) > scalar should be usable too. > > can then also be written as: > > %hash`key
ugly. > $hashref`foo`bar`baz`quux ugly ugly ugly > %hash`$key oops, you contradicted yourself here. "only be useable for \w+ keys" > With some imagination, this can also be used for arrays. That would need > to allow the key to have /^-/ and it poses a problem with hybrids like > $0. Normally []/{} decides whether it's a hash or array dereference, but > for this easy-to-write thing a /^-?\d+$/ should be doable. After all, [] > and {} are still available if you need to be explicit. > > $0`15 # $0[15] > $0`alpha # $0{'alpha'} You are repeating the errors of javascript. $0[15] != $0{15} > :key`value > use Some::Module :foo :bar :baz`quux :xyzzy; I think I would prefer something more intuitive, like :baz=quux Any [^\w\s] character could be used there unambiguously, and = has the already existing parallel with command-line args, but ` is just an unused character. > and ` is in an extremely easy to type place. ... on a us/english keyboard ... > I think %hash`key makes sense. But I'd like to find out if more people > like this idea. one emphatic negative vote here.