Well, this new obfu has been long overdue (since YAPC::Europe 2001 auction), and I just started some real coding today (oh my gawd, I reinstalled Perl at work, which means I'll probably be less efficient (my job doesn't require any Perl skills)).
This yet another script to print a witty(?) message. (Sorry Dave, I really wanted to output an image, but I also wanted to give you this script. So I'll code this one for you, and if I ever get 'round to output an image, this other one will be also for you too (although later).)
While reading Effective Perl Programming (aka "The Shiny Ball Book"), I learnt a trick about substr which I immediately wanted to try. After trying it a little more than reasonable, the scripts I wrote with this trick stopped "working". They didn't DWIM anymore. I suspect it's some kind of a "bug" (actually it's more like a feature that doesn't work but is never used, except by people like me. Yuck.) in substr.
I began to look at the source. But I am not a Perl core hacker, so I could only track the problem to a few macro-filled lines. Now I should read perlhack, write a full test case to prove my point, check if it still doesn't work with bleadperl, and either ask for help on p5p (without a patch?) or try to fix this myself. Since this non-working feature is never used, I guess I have all the time I want... :-)
Had this "feature" worked, I suppose I'd have just used this trick for Dave's obfu. Which I do, but it's more difficult to do without, and takes longer... I am glad I am not doing this on my spare time! ;-)
(And no, don't ask, I won't tell you... It's mine!)
If you want to get to core hacking, read also perlguts, use perlapi for reference, and find Simon's tutorials -- I haven't any URL handy but Google should be able to help, as usual.
Also, if you've found a bug, use perlbug. Or do you want to keep it sekret ?
Re:[CM]ore hacking
BooK on 2002-01-16T09:14:10
Oops, I answered the wrong post. See my answer below.
Not secret, but it's so insignificant, I would not really call this a bug... Maybe an "unsuspected misbehavior".
Anyway, je vois que tu es français (or live in France, at least): I suppose you are not the only Perl hacker in Lyon. Never thought about creating Lyon.pm? We have already found the perfect place for the meeting!
Re:Lyon.pm?
rafael on 2002-01-16T09:51:49
Yeah, I know this Café.About creating Lyon.pm.... neat idea, but I don't know much Perl hackers here.
Re:Lyon.pm?
BooK on 2002-01-16T10:58:57
I suppose creating the group will attract other Lyon Perl hackers. Get in touch with the other French Perl Mongueurs (mostly Paris.pm people) at mongueurs[at]mongueurs.net.
There's already Toulouse and Marseille, why not Lyon?
Et pourquoi on continuerait pas en français par mail ? mongueurs(à)mongueurs.net
:-)
