"Bryan C. Warnock" wrote:
>
> On Mon, 31 Jul 2000, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> > How about a Format module that works pretty much exactly the same way
> > but isn't actually in the Perl core?
> >
>
> One of the original suggestions, I believe. In this case, because
> other stuff *does* exist, the Format.pm mod should just attempt (to the
> best of its ability) to replicate Perl 5 formats as much as possible,
> and whatever additions to text formatting be consolidated in a new
> module, (abilities to be determined. Multiple column output, for
> instance.)
>
> > >Language > > -> Unixcentrism > > -> 1.PROBLEM:
> localtime's behaviour is non-intuitive for non-Unix people > > > >How
> can this be changed and still preserve any semblence of backward >
> >compatiblity? > > By adding a Date module to the standard library
> and encouraging its use? >
>
> Certainly. It would probably be a good module to work out overloading
> on as well.
>
Of all the items up for change in Perl6, these two bother me the most.
Format less so than localtime, but I still worry about breakage.
The original format stuff HAS to be kept. Don't document it so as not to
encourage its use. Play up Text::Autoformat::form if you wish, but there
will be way too much breakage/too little updateage if hundreds of old
web log scripts have to be ripped out upon installation of Perl6.
Ditto for localtime - I say don't touch localtime at all. Document it as
an old function that is deprecated in 6.0.0 and will be dropped in
6.X.Y. Promote one new object in the core called Date that returns 1 for
Jan and the full four digit year. Give it strftime capabilities.
Hmm, that's another point - if you change localtime, doesn't strftime
have to change too? As does the implementation of scalar(localtime()).
$0.02 offered IMHO
--
Matthew O. Persico
"If you were supposed to understand it,
we wouldn't call it code." - FedEx
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