Beginner's question on coding with perl

[runner]

I've been programming in half a dozen languages for some time now and I recently picked up perl. I have no formal training in perl so forgive my ignorance if this question sounds stupid. My question concerns the use of "my" when defining variables. In all the perl programs I've written I never used "my" for anything. I assume it's a way of defining local variables that are not available outside the local environment. What is the purpose of defining local variables like this? And... should I be doing this?

[PhraSEOlogy]

Try googling:

defining local variables my

You will find some good information on how to use 'my' and why to use it.

[Lord Majestic]

Once you waste a few good hours debugging your software only to find out that bug was due to local variable with the same name as global, thus masking global var's value that you actually needed, you will appreciate necessity to always "use strict" in Perl, and therefore use "my" to declare variables explicitly.

[runner]

I guess that answers my question!

[SeanW]

always "use strict" in Perl, and therefore use "my" to declare variables explicitly

If there were one thing every perl newbie should learn, that is it.

Sean

[moltar]

use strict

and

my

saves hours of development time on daily basis :)

[satanclaus]

Pick up the Oreilly Programming Perl book and look at the scoping functions in chapter 29 which lists all the functions. That chapter alone has pushed me far into PERL usage.

[wruppert]

Definitely strongly agree with "use strict".

Also, "use warnings" (or perl -W) and provide prototypes for your subroutines.

[runner]

I've got <i>Programming Perl</i> third edition. I'll read chapter 29 tonight. I'm almost afraid to become enlightened because I'll have to go and rewrite all my scripts. I'd better get started.

[moltar]

Actually, once you learn a few perl tricks, you will love it! And you will write scripts much faster. There will be no way back. Perl helps me every day!