use Perl

• [Syntax] is fugly (Score:1)

  by parv (6865)

  (Had a visceral reaction just after reading the example code.)

  Reduction operators with '[' ']' look horrendously ugly as they remind me of Subject: header of mailing lists which either include the list name or the major topic in square brackets.

  But, I will take it even if I don't have to like it.

  --
  - parv
  • Re: (Score:1)

    by JonathanWorthington (6049)

    I think they're intended to remind you of arrays/lists, since you're doing an operation over one. I guess when it comes to syntax, beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder - there is a method form of reduce that you can call on an array too, BTW. :-)
    • Re: (Score:1)

      by parv (6865)

      Well, I indeed like the concept.

      Given that I was shocked already, the points put forward by davegaramond remind me that things could be worse, and your own point, my hate probably will most dissipate. I will need to try harder to disassociate square brackets abuse on some mailing lists.

      --
      - parv
      • Re:[Syntax] is fugly (Score:1)

        by Aristotle (5147) <pagaltzis@gmx.de> on 2008.12.13 12:04 (#66466) Homepage Journal

        There is a long section in my .procmailrc whose job is to get rid of that square bracket detritus from the lists I’m subscribed to…

        Reply to This

        Parent

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by parv (6865)

          Yes, I have that going too in procmail. I choose to invoke Perl to handle the cleaning bits.

          I am sure somebody else would have bad reaction reading "procmail".

          --
          - parv
          • Re: (Score:1)

            by Aristotle (5147)

            Oh, I hate it too… but it exists and works, which beats my non-existent better solutions. :-)