Next

Program Repair Shop

97

Leaning Toothpick Syndrome

     (my $copy_target_node) = $dst_file; $copy_target_node=~s/\//\\/g;
     (my $copy_source_node) = $src_file; $copy_source_node=~s/\//\\/g;

• Here we're trying to replace Unix-ish / with DOS-ish \

• This is an example of the dreaded Leaning Toothpick Syndrome

• When s///-ing patterns with many slashes, use s{}{} instead:

     (my $copy_target_node) = $dst_file; $copy_target_node=~s{/}{\\}g;
     (my $copy_source_node) = $src_file; $copy_source_node=~s{/}{\\}g;

• In this case, however, tr is more appropriate

     (my $copy_target_node) = $dst_file; $copy_target_node=~ tr{/}{\\};
     (my $copy_source_node) = $src_file; $copy_source_node=~ tr{/}{\\};

• Similarly use tr/x//d in place of s/x//g

Next

Copyright © 2002 M. J. Dominus