RE: [p5p] pod bugs

["Moore, Paul" <Paul.Moore@uk.origin-it.com>]

From: Tom Christiansen [mailto:tchrist@chthon.perl.com]
> I think what we're getting down to is that $/ = '' is a problem.
> Nobody ever understands what it really means, and constantly 
> tries to rehack programs that use it.

I think this is the crux of things. Specifically, from perldoc perlvar

    $/      The input record separator, newline by default. This is used
            to influence Perl's idea of what a "line" is. Works like
            awk's RS variable, including treating empty lines as
            delimiters if set to the null string. (Note: An empty
            line cannot contain any spaces or tabs.)

That note is the key. Maybe the simple answer is "just" to change the effect
of $/='' to split on empty lines, where empty matches /^\s*$/ rather than
just /^$/.

Excuse me while I go and sacrifice 14 chickens, 2 goats and an elephant to
the Compatibility Police, to return them to their slumber....

Paul.

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Follow-Ups from:

Andy Dougherty <doughera@lafayette.edu>
Nick Ing-Simmons <nik@tiuk.ti.com>

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