Dont just convert to Perl

There's a difference between converting a program from one language to another and re-engineering a program to make best use of a new language - and I had a couple of clear examples of that on our Perl for Larger Projects course today.

The following is "converted" code ...

if (! open (FH,"../Desktop/access_log.xyz")) {

print STDERR "We have a weeny problem there!\n";

exit (1);

}

Or "re-engineered" you can write ...

open (FH,"../Desktop/access_log.xyz") 

   or die "We have a weeny problem there!\n";

The following is "converted" code again ...

while ($line = <FH>) {

   if (index($line,"cliad") > -1) {

      print "$line";

   }

}

which is much better written as

@info = <FH>;

@matched = grep(/cliad/,@info);

print @matched;

or perhaps even

print (grep(/cliad/,<FH>));

Why re-engineer?
• Performance
• Maintainability
• Readability
• Extendability
(written 2007-10-18, updated 2007-10-19)

Associated topics are indexed under

P704 - Managing Perl Projects
  [2375] Designing your data structures for a robust Perl application - (2009-08-25)
  [2070] Converting to Perl - the sort of programs you will write - (2009-03-08)
  [836] Build on what you already have with OO - (2006-08-17)

P711 - An Introduction to Standards in Perl
  [3398] Perl - making best use of the flexibility, but also using good coding standards - (2011-08-19)
  [2875] A long day in Melksham ... - (2010-07-17)
  [2688] Security considerations in programming - what do we teach? - (2010-03-22)
  [1863] About dieing and exiting in Perl - (2008-11-01)
  [1853] Well structured coding in Perl - (2008-10-24)
  [1728] A short Perl example - (2008-07-30)
  [1555] Advanced Python, Perl, PHP and Tcl training courses / classes - (2008-02-25)
  [1345] Perl and Shell coding standards / costs of an IT project - (2007-09-11)
  [1221] Bathtubs and pecking birds - (2007-06-07)
  [1047] Maintainable code - some positive advice - (2007-01-21)
  [965] KISS - one action per statement please - Perl - (2006-12-05)
  [945] Code quality counts - (2006-11-26)
  [743] How to debug a Perl program - (2006-06-04)
  [668] Python - block insets help with documentation - (2006-04-04)
  [242] Satisfaction of training - (2005-03-11)

5646

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