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Larry Wall Unveils Perl 6.0.0
An anonymous reader writes: Last night Larry Wall unveiled the first development release of Perl 6, joking that now a top priority was fixing bugs that could be mistaken for features. The new language features meta-programming — the ability to define new bits of syntax on your own to extend the language, and even new infix operators. Larry also previewed what one reviewer called "exotic and new" features, including the sequence operator and new control structures like "react" and "gather and take" lists. "We don't want their language to run out of steam," Larry told the audience. "It might be a 30- or 40-year language. I think it's good enough."
Perl 6 vs. Python 3 - who will get to 1000 users first?
It is the End Times. I never thought this would ever happen.
Good bye everyone, it was fun while it lasted.
I'll be writing my "Hello apocalypse!" script in perl6 shortly.
Actually, if you look closely, the GP is actually a Perl script for computing the Fibonacci Sequence.
And the book appeared more than 11 years ago, so indeed, it's about time. Now I only have to wait for it to appear in Debian stable ...
| Last night Larry Wall unveiled the first development release of Perl 6, joking that now a top priority was fixing bugs that could be mistaken for features.
Sounds good.
| The new language features meta-programming — the ability to define new bits of syntax on your own to extend the language, and even new infix operators.
Hey Larry, I found a huge bug which could be mistaken as a feature!
What the fuck is Perl and what asshole uses it? Is it anything like Fortran, Pascal, or Ada? Let it fucking die with dignity already.
The best part is you can append gibberish to it and tell everyone that you've done lots of work and nobody will know the difference. Hell, it might actually do something useful!
I am going to admit that I write (or have written) some Perl. I've even given it away. I'd also like to take this time to apologize for my Perl.
I wrote a "safe list" script for a friend, it was really damned simple. People signed up and sent email messages to each other for the purposes of MLM - that's not why I wrote it, that's just what people did with it. It had a small but functional administration panel. It was about as secure as a screen door. Usernames and passwords were in a plain text file - you were SUPPOSED to move it and chmod it but I don't think anyone ever did even though it was mentioned a few times in the README.TXT.
Anyhow, he wanted to sell the script. I said that was cool. I was more interested in the code so I made a few versions. It was usually purchased a few times and then hit Usenet in .zip form. They could have at least taken my email out of the damned thing if they were going to steal it. I've long since dropped that email. The last version (released in something like 2002) was free for the taking and my friend charged to install and customize it as he'd learned a little by then.
So here's the easiest to install script and the least secure thing on the internet - plain text files, indeed, and I *still* see it installed from time to time. I can only imagine that the email address still gets emails from people asking what chmod means or how to upload the file or how they put it in their C drive and nobody seems to be able to access it from the internet.
Yup... My Perl... Breaking machines, frustrating users, and being insecure for 25 years and running.
A little part of me is kind of proud of that but my formal statement is, indeed, an apology.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."