diff options
| author | Nami-Doc <vendethiel@hotmail.fr> | 2014-08-14 21:35:14 +0200 | 
|---|---|---|
| committer | Nami-Doc <vendethiel@hotmail.fr> | 2014-08-14 21:35:14 +0200 | 
| commit | 0b2f1ff6f1c05a35e0d5fda7dc9e9a7248b44670 (patch) | |
| tree | 3ecd2c05de48d0a3c9c61b0283e57b28ac939bde /perl6.html.markdown | |
| parent | 02aed42057bc38a463ef8e787ade8d3353d1e783 (diff) | |
Update perl6 to fix some of its quirks
Diffstat (limited to 'perl6.html.markdown')
| -rw-r--r-- | perl6.html.markdown | 534 | 
1 files changed, 318 insertions, 216 deletions
| diff --git a/perl6.html.markdown b/perl6.html.markdown index 92219708..fca863af 100644 --- a/perl6.html.markdown +++ b/perl6.html.markdown @@ -7,24 +7,29 @@ contributors:      - ["Nami-Doc", "http://github.com/Nami-Doc"]  --- -Perl 6 is a highly capable, feature-rich programming language made for the upcoming hundred years. +Perl 6 is a highly capable, feature-rich programming language made for the +upcoming hundred years. -Perl 6 runs on [the Parrot VM](http://parrot.org/), the JVM and [the MoarVM](http://moarvm.com). +Perl 6 runs on [the Parrot VM](http://parrot.org/), the JVM +and [the MoarVM](http://moarvm.com). + +Meta-note : the triple pound signs are here to denote headlines, +double paragraphs, and single notes. -Meta-note : the triple pound signs are here to denote headlines, double paragraphs, single notes.  `#=>` represents the output of a command.  ```perl  # Single line comment start with a pound  #`( -  Multiline comments use #` and a quoting construct. (), [], {}, 「」, etc, will work. +  Multiline comments use #` and a quoting construct. +  (), [], {}, 「」, etc, will work.  )  ### Variables  # In Perl 6, you declare a lexical variable using `my` -a +my $variable;  # Perl 6 has 4 variable types :  ## * Scalars. They represent a single value. They start with a `$` @@ -32,19 +37,22 @@ a  my $str = 'String';  my $str2 = "String"; # double quotes allow for interpolation -# variable names can contain but not end with simple quotes and dashes, and can contain (and end with) underscores : +# variable names can contain but not end with simple quotes and dashes, +#  and can contain (and end with) underscores :  # my $weird'variable-name_ = 5; # works !  my $bool = True; # `True` and `False` are Perl 6's boolean  my $inverse = !$bool; # You can invert a bool with the prefix `!` operator -my $forced-bool = so $str; # And you can use the prefix `so` operator which turns its operand into a Bool +my $forced-bool = so $str; # And you can use the prefix `so` operator +                           # which turns its operand into a Bool  ## * Arrays. They represent multiple values. Their name start with `@`.  my @array = 1, 2, 3;  my @array = 'a', 'b', 'c';  # equivalent to : -my @array = <a b c>; # array of words, delimited by space. similar to perl5's qw, or Ruby's %w +my @array = <a b c>; # array of words, delimited by space. +                     # Similar to perl5's qw, or Ruby's %w.  say @array[2]; # Array indices start at 0 -- This is the third element @@ -58,10 +66,12 @@ my %hash = 1 => 2,  my %hash = autoquoted => "key", # keys *can* get auto-quoted              "some other" => "value", # trailing commas are okay              ; -my %hash = <key1 value1 key2 value2>; # you can also create a hash from an even-numbered array +my %hash = <key1 value1 key2 value2>; # you can also create a hash +                                      # from an even-numbered array  my %hash = key1 => 'value1', key2 => 'value2'; # same as this -# You can also use the "colon pair" syntax: (especially handy for named parameters that you'll see later) +# You can also use the "colon pair" syntax: +# (especially handy for named parameters that you'll see later)  my %hash = :w(1), # equivalent to `w => 1`             # this is useful for the `True` shortcut:             :truey, # equivalent to `:truey(True)`, or `truey => True` @@ -70,33 +80,37 @@ my %hash = :w(1), # equivalent to `w => 1`             ;  say %hash{'key1'}; # You can use {} to get the value from a key -say %hash<key2>; # if it's a string, you can actually use <> +say %hash<key2>;   # If it's a string, you can actually use <> +                   # (`{key1}` doesn't work, as Perl6 doesn't have barewords) -## * Subs (subroutines, or functions in most other languages). Stored in variable, they use `&` +## * Subs (subroutines, or functions in most other languages). +# Stored in variable, they use `&`.  sub say-hello { say "Hello, world" } -sub say-hello-to(Str $name) { # you can provide the type of an argument -                              # and it'll be checked at compile-time +sub say-hello-to(Str $name) { # You can provide the type of an argument +                              # and it'll be checked at compile-time.      say "Hello, $name !";  } -# since you can omit parenthesis to call a function with no arguments, -#  you need "&" in the name to capture `say-hello` +# Since you can omit parenthesis to call a function with no arguments, +#  you need "&" in the name to capture `say-hello`.  my &s = &say-hello; -my &other-s = sub { say "anonymous function !" } +my &other-s = sub { say "Anonymous function !" }  # A sub can have a "slurpy" parameter, or "doesn't-matter-how-many" -sub as-many($head, *@rest) { # the `*@` slurpy will basically "take everything else". -                             # Note: you can have parameters *before* (like here) a slurpy one, -                             # but not *after*. +sub as-many($head, *@rest) { # The `*@` slurpy will basically "take everything else". +                             # Note: you can have parameters *before* (like here) +                             # a slurpy one, but not *after*.    say @rest.join(' / ') ~ " !";  }  say as-many('Happy', 'Happy', 'Birthday'); #=> Happy / Birthday ! -                                           # Note that the splat did not consume the parameter before. +                                           # Note that the splat did not consume +                                           #  the parameter before. -## You can call a function with an array using the "argument list flattening" operator `|` -#  (it's not actually the only feature of the operator, but it's one of them) +## You can call a function with an array using the +# "argument list flattening" operator `|` +# (it's not actually the only role of this operator, but it's one of them)  sub concat3($a, $b, $c) {    say "$a, $b, $c";  } @@ -105,7 +119,8 @@ concat3(|@array); #=> a, b, c  ## It can also have optional arguments:  sub with-optional($arg?) { # the "?" marks the argument optional -  say "I might return `(Any)` if I don't have an argument passed, or I'll return my argument"; +  say "I might return `(Any)` if I don't have an argument passed, +      or I'll return my argument";    $arg;  }  with-optional; # returns Any @@ -132,14 +147,15 @@ with-named(1, named => 6); #=> 7  with-named(2, :named(5)); #=> 7  with-named(3, :4named); #=> 7 -                        # (special colon pair syntax for numbers, mainly useful for `:2nd` etc) +                        # (special colon pair syntax for numbers, +                        # to be used with s// and such, see later)  with-named(3); # warns, because we tried to use the undefined $named in a `+`:                 # by default, named arguments are *optional*  # To make a named argument mandatory, you can use `?`'s inverse, `!`  sub with-mandatory-named(:$str!)  { -  say "$named !"; +  say "$str !";  }  with-mandatory-named(str => "My String"); #=> My String !  with-mandatory-named; # run time error: "Required named parameter not passed"  @@ -171,9 +187,10 @@ named-def(def => 15); #=> 15  ### Containers  # In Perl 6, values are actually stored in "containers". -# The assignment operator asks the container on the left to store the value on its right. -# When passed around, containers are marked as immutable. Which means that, in a function, -#  you'll get an error if you try to mutate one of your arguments. +# The assignment operator asks the container on the left to store the value on +#  its right. When passed around, containers are marked as immutable. +# Which means that, in a function, you'll get an error if you try to +#  mutate one of your arguments.  # If you really need to, you can ask for a mutable container using `is rw` :  sub mutate($n is rw) {    $n++; @@ -185,7 +202,8 @@ sub mutate($n is rw) {  # A sub itself returns a container, which means it can be marked as rw :  my $x = 42;  sub mod() is rw { $x } -mod() = 52; # in this case, the parentheses are mandatory (else Perl 6 thinks it's a "term") +mod() = 52; # in this case, the parentheses are mandatory +            # (else Perl 6 thinks `mod` is a "term")  say $x; #=> 52 @@ -197,9 +215,10 @@ say $x; #=> 52  ## Conditionals  # - `if` -# Before talking about `if`, we need to know which values are "Truthy" (represent True), -#  and which are "Falsey" (or "Falsy") -- meaning they represent False. -# Only these values are Falsey: (), 0, "0", Nil, A type, and of course False itself. +# Before talking about `if`, we need to know which values are "Truthy" +#  (represent True), and which are "Falsey" (or "Falsy") -- represent False. +# Only these values are Falsey: (), 0, "0", Nil, A type (like `Str` or `Int`), +#  and of course False itself.  # Every other value is Truthy.  if True {    say "It's true !"; @@ -217,18 +236,18 @@ say "Quite truthy" if True;  # - Ternary conditional, "?? !!" (like `x ? y : z` in some other languages)  my $a = $condition ?? $value-if-true !! $value-if-false; -# - `given`-`when` looks like other languages `switch`, but it's much more powerful thanks to smart matching, -# and thanks to Perl 6's "topic variable", $_. +# - `given`-`when` looks like other languages `switch`, but much more +# powerful thanks to smart matching and thanks to Perl 6's "topic variable", $_.  # This variable contains the default argument of a block,  #  a loop's current iteration (unless explicitly named), etc. -# Given simply puts its argument into `$_` (like a block would do), -#  and `when` uses it using the "smart matching" operator. -# Since other Perl 6 constructs use this variable (as said before, like `for`, blocks, etc), -#  this means the powerful `when` is not only applicable along with a `given`, -#  but instead anywhere a `$_` exists. +# `given` simply puts its argument into `$_` (like a block would do), +#  and `when` compares it using the "smart matching" (`~~`) operator. +# Since other Perl 6 constructs use this variable (as said before, like `for`, +# blocks, etc), this means the powerful `when` is not only applicable along with +# a `given`, but instead anywhere a `$_` exists.  given "foo bar" { -  when /foo/ { # you'll read about the smart-matching operator below -- just know `when` uses it -               # this is equivalent to `if $_ ~~ /foo/` +  when /foo/ { # You'll read about the smart-matching operator below -- just know `when` uses it. +               # This is equivalent to `if $_ ~~ /foo/`.      say "Yay !";    }    when $_.chars > 50 { # smart matching anything with True (`$a ~~ True`) is True, @@ -242,15 +261,17 @@ given "foo bar" {  ## Looping constructs -# - `loop` is an infinite loop if you don't pass it arguments, but can also be a c-style `for` : +# - `loop` is an infinite loop if you don't pass it arguments, +# but can also be a c-style `for` :  loop {    say "This is an infinite loop !";    last; # last breaks out of the loop, like the `break` keyword in other languages  }  loop (my $i = 0; $i < 5; $i++) { -  next if $i == 3; # `next` skips to the next iteration, like `continue` in other languages. -                   # Notice that you can also use postfix conditionals, loops, etc. +  next if $i == 3; # `next` skips to the next iteration, like `continue` +                   # in other languages. Note that you can also use postfix conditionals, +                   # loops, etc.    say "This is a C-style for loop !";  } @@ -270,9 +291,10 @@ for @array {  }  for @array { -  next if $_ == 3; # you can skip to the next iteration (like `continue` in C-like languages) -  redo if $_ == 4; # you can re-do the iteration, keeping the same topic variable (`$_`) -  last if $_ == 5; # you can also break out of a loop (like `break` in C-like languages) +  # You can... +  next if $_ == 3; # Skip to the next iteration (like `continue` in C-like languages). +  redo if $_ == 4; # Re-do the iteration, keeping the same topic variable (`$_`). +  last if $_ == 5; # Or break out of a loop (like `break` in C-like languages).  }  # Note - the "lambda" `->` syntax isn't reserved to `for` : @@ -283,8 +305,8 @@ if long-computation() -> $result {  ### Operators  ## Since Perl languages are very much operator-based languages -## Perl 6 operators are actually just funny-looking subroutines, in syntactic categories, -##  like infix:<+> (addition) or prefix:<!> (bool not) +## Perl 6 operators are actually just funny-looking subroutines, in syntactic +##  categories, like infix:<+> (addition) or prefix:<!> (bool not).  ## The categories are :  # - "prefix" : before (like `!` in `!True`). @@ -312,12 +334,14 @@ if long-computation() -> $result {  (1, 2) eqv (1, 3);  # - `~~` is smart matching -# for a complete combinations list, use this table : http://perlcabal.org/syn/S03.html#Smart_matching +# For a complete list of combinations, use this table : http://perlcabal.org/syn/S03.html#Smart_matching  'a' ~~ /a/; # true if matches regexp  'key' ~~ %hash; # true if key exists in hash -$arg ~~ &bool-returning-function; # true if the function, passed `$arg` as an argument, returns True -1 ~~ Int; # "is of type" -1 ~~ True; # smart-matching against a boolean always returns that boolean (and will warn). +$arg ~~ &bool-returning-function; # `True` if the function, passed `$arg` +                                  # as an argument, returns `True`. +1 ~~ Int; # "has type" (check superclasses and roles) +1 ~~ True; # smart-matching against a boolean always returns that boolean +           # (and will warn).  # - `===` is value identity and uses `.WHICH` on the objects to compare them  # - `=:=` is container identity and uses `VAR()` on the objects to compare them @@ -330,38 +354,44 @@ $arg ~~ &bool-returning-function; # true if the function, passed `$arg` as an ar  3 .. 7; # 3 to 7, both included  # `^` on either side them exclusive on that side :  3 ^..^ 7; # 3 to 7, not included (basically `4 .. 6`) -# this also works as a shortcut for `0..^N` +# This also works as a shortcut for `0..^N`:  ^10; # means 0..^10 -# This also allows us to demonstrate that Perl 6 has lazy arrays, using the Whatever Star : +# This also allows us to demonstrate that Perl 6 has lazy arrays, +#  using the Whatever Star:  my @array = 1..*; # 1 to Infinite ! -say @array[^10]; # you can pass arrays as subscripts and it'll return an array of results -                 # this will print "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10" (and not run out of memory !) -# Note : when reading an infinite list, Perl 6 will "reify" the elements it needs, then keep them in memory -# They won't be calculated more than once. +say @array[^10]; # you can pass arrays as subscripts and it'll return +                 #  an array of results. This will print +                 # "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10" (and not run out of memory !) +# Note : when reading an infinite list, Perl 6 will "reify" the elements +# it needs, then keep them in memory. They won't be calculated more than once. -# Warning, though: if you try this example in the REPL and juste put `1..*`, -# Perl 6 will be forced to try and evaluate the whole array (to print it), -# so you'll end with an infinite loop. +# Warning, though: if you try this example in the REPL and just put `1..*`, +#  Perl 6 will be forced to try and evaluate the whole array (to print it), +#  so you'll end with an infinite loop.  ## * And, Or  3 && 4; # 4, which is Truthy. Calls `.Bool` on `4` and gets `True`.  0 || False; # False. Calls `.Bool` on `0`  ## * Short-circuit (and tight) versions of the above -$a && $b && $c; # returns the first argument that evaluates to False, or the last argument +$a && $b && $c; # Returns the first argument that evaluates to False, +                # or the last argument.  $a || $b; -# And because you're going to want them, you also have composed assignment operators: +# And because you're going to want them, +#  you also have composed assignment operators:  $a *= 2; # multiply and assignment  $b %%= 5; # divisible by and assignment -$c .= say; # method call and assignment +@array .= sort; # calls the `sort` method and assigns the result back  ### More on subs ! -# As we said before, Perl 6 has *really* powerful subs. -# We're going to see a few more key concepts that make them better than in any other language :-). +# As we said before, Perl 6 has *really* powerful subs. We're going to see +# a few more key concepts that make them better than in any other language :-). -## Unpacking ! It's the ability to "extract" arrays and keys. It'll work in `my`s and parameters. +## Unpacking ! +# It's the ability to "extract" arrays and keys. +# It'll work in `my`s and in parameter lists.  my ($a, $b) = 1, 2;  say $a; #=> 1  my ($, $, $c) = 1, 2, 3; # keep the non-interesting anonymous @@ -377,14 +407,17 @@ sub foo(@array [$fst, $snd]) {  foo(@tail); #=> My first is 2, my second is 3 ! All in all, I'm 2 3 -# If you're not using the array itself, you can also keep it anonymous, much like a scalar: +# If you're not using the array itself, you can also keep it anonymous, +#  much like a scalar:  sub first-of-array(@ [$fst]) { $fst }  first-of-array(@small); #=> 1 -first-of-array(@tail); # errors with "Too many positional parameters passed" (the array is too big) +first-of-array(@tail); # Throws an error "Too many positional parameters passed" +                       # (which means the array is too big).  # You can also use a slurp ...  sub slurp-in-array(@ [$fst, *@rest]) { # you could decide to keep `*@rest` anonymous -  say $fst + @rest.elems; +  say $fst + @rest.elems; # `.elems` returns a list's length. +                          # Here, `@rest` is `(3,)`, since `$fst` holds the `2`.  }  slurp-in-array(@tail); #=> 3 @@ -403,18 +436,21 @@ sub key-of(% (:value($val), :qua($qua))) {  }  # Then call it with a hash: (you need to keep the brackets for it to be a hash) -key-of({value => 1}); +key-of({value => 'foo', qua => 1});  #key-of(%hash); # the same (for an equivalent `%hash`) -## The last expression of a sub is returned automatically (though you may use the `return` keyword, of course): +## The last expression of a sub is returned automatically +# (though you may use the `return` keyword, of course):  sub next-index($n) {    $n + 1;  }  my $new-n = next-index(3); # $new-n is now 4 -# This is true for everything, except for the looping constructs (due to performance reasons): -#  there's no purpose in building a list if we're just going to discard all the results. -# If you still want to build one, you can use the `do` prefix: (or the `gather` prefix, which we'll see later) +# This is true for everything, except for the looping constructs +# (due to performance reasons): there's reason to build a list +#  if we're just going to discard all the results. +# If you still want to build one, you can use the `do` statement prefix: +#  (or the `gather` prefix, which we'll see later)  sub list-of($n) {    do for ^$n { # note the use of the range-to prefix operator `^` (`0..^N`)      $_ # current loop iteration @@ -424,15 +460,16 @@ my @list3 = list-of(3); #=> (0, 1, 2)  ## You can create a lambda with `-> {}` ("pointy block") or `{}` ("block")  my &lambda = -> $argument { "The argument passed to this lambda is $argument" } -# `-> {}` and `{}` are pretty much the same thing, except that the former can take arguments, -#  and that the latter can be mistaken as a hash by the parser. +# `-> {}` and `{}` are pretty much the same thing, except that the former can +# take arguments, and that the latter can be mistaken as a hash by the parser.  # We can, for example, add 3 to each value of an array using map:  my @arrayplus3 = map({ $_ + 3 }, @array); # $_ is the implicit argument -# a sub (`sub {}`) has different semantics than a block (`{}` or `-> {}`): -# a block doesn't have a "function context" (though it can have arguments), which means that if you -#  return from it, you're going to return from the parent function, compare: +# A sub (`sub {}`) has different semantics than a block (`{}` or `-> {}`): +# A block doesn't have a "function context" (though it can have arguments), +#  which means that if you return from it, +#  you're going to return from the parent function. Compare:  sub is-in(@array, $elem) {    # this will `return` out of the `is-in` sub    # once the condition evaluated to True, the loop won't be run anymore @@ -441,7 +478,7 @@ sub is-in(@array, $elem) {  sub truthy-array(@array) {    # this will produce an array of `True` and `False`:    # (you can also say `anon sub` for "anonymous subroutine") -  map(sub { if $_ { return True } else { return False } }, @array); +  map(sub ($i) { if $i { return True } else { return False } }, @array);    # ^ the `return` only returns from the anonymous `sub`  } @@ -454,15 +491,17 @@ say (*/2)(4); #=> 2  say ((*+3)/5)(5); #=> 1.6                    # works even in parens ! -# but if you need to have more than one argument (`$_`) in a block (without wanting to resort to `-> {}`), +# But if you need to have more than one argument (`$_`) +#  in a block (without wanting to resort to `-> {}`),  #  you can also use the implicit argument syntax, `$^` :  map({ $^a + $^b + 3 }, @array); # same as the above -# Note : those are sorted lexicographically. `{ $^b / $^a }` is like `-> $a, $b { $b / $a }` +# Note : those are sorted lexicographically. +# `{ $^b / $^a }` is like `-> $a, $b { $b / $a }`  ## Multiple Dispatch -# Perl 6 can decide which variant of a `sub` to call based on the type of the arguments, -# or on arbitrary preconditions, like with a type or a `where`: +# Perl 6 can decide which variant of a `sub` to call based on the type of the +# arguments, or on arbitrary preconditions, like with a type or a `where`:  # with types  multi sub sayit(Int $n) { # note the `multi` keyword here @@ -472,21 +511,25 @@ multi sayit(Str $s) } # the `sub` is the default    say "String: $s";  }  sayit("foo"); # prints "String: foo" -sayit(True); # fails at *compile time* with "calling 'sayit' will never work with arguments of types ..." +sayit(True); # fails at *compile time* with +             # "calling 'sayit' will never work with arguments of types ..."  # with arbitrary precondition:  multi is-big(Int $n where * > 50) { "Yes !" } # using a closure -multi is-big(Int $ where 10..50) { "Quite." } # this uses smart-matching (could use a regexp, etc) +multi is-big(Int $ where 10..50) { "Quite." } # Using smart-matching +                                              # (could use a regexp, etc)  multi is-big(Int $) { "No" } -# you can also name these checks, by creating "subsets": +# You can also name these checks, by creating "subsets":  subset Even of Int where * %% 2; -multi odd-or-even(Even) { "Even" } # the main case using the type. We don't name the argument +multi odd-or-even(Even) { "Even" } # The main case using the type. +                                   # We don't name the argument.  multi odd-or-even($) { "Odd" } # "else"  # You can even dispatch based on a positional's argument presence ! -multi with-or-without-you(:$with!) { # make it mandatory to be able to dispatch against it +multi with-or-without-you(:$with!) { # You need make it mandatory to +                                     # be able to dispatch against it.    say "I can live ! Actually, I can't.";  }  multi with-or-without-you { @@ -494,17 +537,21 @@ multi with-or-without-you {  }  # This is very, very useful for many purposes, like `MAIN` subs (covered later),  #  and even the language itself is using it in several places. -# `is`, for example, is actually a `multi sub` named `trait_mod:<is>`, and it works off that. -# `is rw`, for example, is a dispatch to a function with this signature: +# +# - `is`, for example, is actually a `multi sub` named `trait_mod:<is>`, +#  and it works off that. +# - `is rw`, is simply a dispatch to a function with this signature:  # sub trait_mod:<is>(Routine $r, :$rw!) {} -# (commented because running this would probably lead to some very surprising side-effects !) +# +# (commented because running this would be a terrible idea !)  ### Scoping -# In Perl 6, contrarily to many scripting languages (Python, Ruby, PHP, for example), -#  you are to declare your variables before using them. You already saw it, with `my`. -# (there are other declarator keywords, like `our`, `has` and `state`, but we'll talk about them later) -# This is called "lexical scoping", where in inner blocks, you can access variables from outer blocks. +# In Perl 6, contrarily to many scripting languages (like Python, Ruby, PHP), +#  you are to declare your variables before using them. You know `my`. +# (there are other declarators, `our`, `state`, ..., which we'll see later). +# This is called "lexical scoping", where in inner blocks, +#  you can access variables from outer blocks.  my $foo = 'Foo';  sub foo {    my $bar = 'Bar'; @@ -516,36 +563,39 @@ sub foo {  foo()(); #=> 'Foo Bar'  # As you can see, `$foo` and `$bar` were captured. -# But if we were to try and use `$bar` outside of `foo`, the variable would be undefined. -#  (and you'd get a compile time error) +# But if we were to try and use `$bar` outside of `foo`, +# the variable would be undefined (and you'd get a compile time error).  # Perl 6 has another kind of scope : dynamic scope.  # They use the twigil (composed sigil) `*` to mark dynamically-scoped variables:  my $*a = 1; -# Dyamically-scoped variables depend on the current call stack, instead of the current block stack. +# Dyamically-scoped variables depend on the current call stack, +#  instead of the current block depth.  sub foo {    my $*foo = 1;    bar(); # call `bar` in-place  }  sub bar {    say $*foo; # Perl 6 will look into the call stack instead, and find `foo`'s `$*a`, -             # even though the blocks aren't nested (they're call-nested). +             #  even though the blocks aren't nested (they're call-nested).               #=> 1  }  ### Object Model  ## Perl 6 has a quite comprehensive object model -## You declare a class with the keyword `class`, fields with `has`, methods with `method`. -## In Perl 6, every field is private, and named `$!attr`, but if you declare it with `$.`, -##  you get a public (immutable) accessor along with it. +# You declare a class with the keyword `class`, fields with `has`, +# methods with `method`. Every field to private, and is named `$!attr`, +# but you have `$.` to get a public (immutable) accessor along with it. +# (using `$.` is like using `$!` plus a `method` with the same name)  # (Perl 6's object model ("SixModel") is very flexible, and allows you to dynamically add methods,  #  change semantics, etc -- This will not be covered here, and you should refer to the Synopsis)  class A { -  has $.field; # `$.field` is immutable. Use `$!field` from inside the class to modify it. -  has $.other-field is rw; # You can, however, mark a public field as being read/write. +  has $.field; # `$.field` is immutable. +               # From inside the class, use `$!field` to modify it. +  has $.other-field is rw; # You can obviously mark a public field `rw`.    has Int $!private-field = 10;    method get-value { @@ -556,7 +606,7 @@ class A {      # $.field = $n; # As stated before, you can't use the `$.` immutable version.      $!field = $n;   # This works, because `$!` is always mutable. -    $.other-field = 5; # This works, because `$.other-field` was declared `rw` (mutable). +    $.other-field = 5; # This works, because `$.other-field` is `rw`.    }    method !private-method { @@ -565,13 +615,15 @@ class A {  };  # Create a new instance of A with $.field set to 5 : -# note : you can't set private-field from here (more later on) +# Note: you can't set private-field from here (more later on).  my $a = A.new(field => 5);  $a.get-value; #=> 18  #$a.field = 5; # This fails, because the `has $.field` is immutable -$a.other-field = 10; # This, however, works, because the public field is mutable (`rw`). +$a.other-field = 10; # This, however, works, because the public field +                     #  is mutable (`rw`). -## Perl 6 also has inheritance (along with multiple inheritance ... Considered a misfeature by many) +## Perl 6 also has inheritance (along with multiple inheritance) +# (though considered a misfeature by many)  class A {    has $.val; @@ -591,12 +643,14 @@ class B is A { # inheritance uses `is`    method bar { $.val * 10 } # this shadows A's `bar`  } -my B $b .= new(val => 5); # When you use `my T $var`, `$var` starts off with `T` itself in it, -                # so you can call `new` on it. -                # (`.=` is just the compound operator composed of the dot-call and of the assignment operator -                #  `$a .= b` is the same as `$a = $a.b`) -                # Also note that `BUILD` (the method called inside `new`)  will set parent properties too, -                # so you can pass `val => 5`  +# When you use `my T $var`, `$var` starts off with `T` itself in it, +# so you can call `new` on it. +# (`.=` is just the dot-call and the assignment operator: +#  `$a .= b` is the same as `$a = $a.b`) +# Also note that `BUILD` (the method called inside `new`) +#  will set parent properties too, so you can pass `val => 5`. +my B $b .= new(val => 5); +  # $b.not-inherited; # This won't work, for reasons explained above  $b.foo; # prints 5  $b.bar; #=> 50, since it calls B's `bar` @@ -613,27 +667,30 @@ role PrintableVal {  class Item does PrintableVal {    has $.val; -  # When `does`-ed, a `role` literally "mixes in" the class : -  # the methods and fields are put together, which means a class can access -  # the private fields/methods of its roles (but not the inverse !) : +  # When `does`-ed, a `role` literally "mixes in" the class: +  #  the methods and fields are put together, which means a class can access +  #  the private fields/methods of its roles (but not the inverse !):    method access {      say $!counter++;    } -  # However, this : +  # However, this:    # method print {} -  # is an error, since the compiler wouldn't know which `print` to use : -  # contrarily to inheritance, methods mixed in can't be shadowed - they're put at the same "level" +  # is ONLY valid when `print` isn't a `multi` with the same dispatch. +  # (this means a parent class can shadow a child class's `multi print() {}`, +  #  but it's an error if a role does) -  # NOTE: You can use a role as a class (with `is ROLE`). In this case, methods will be shadowed, -  # since the compiler will consider `ROLE` to be a class +  # NOTE: You can use a role as a class (with `is ROLE`). In this case, methods +  # will be shadowed, since the compiler will consider `ROLE` to be a class.  }  ### Exceptions  # Exceptions are built on top of classes, usually in the package `X` (like `X::IO`). -# Unlike many other languages, in Perl 6, you put the `CATCH` block *within* the block to `try`. -# By default, a `try` has a `CATCH` block that catches any exception (`CATCH { default {} }`). -# You can redefine it using `when`s (and `default`) to handle the exceptions you want: +# Unlike many other languages, in Perl 6, you put the `CATCH` block *within* the +#  block to `try`. By default, a `try` has a `CATCH` block that catches +#  any exception (`CATCH { default {} }`). +# You can redefine it using `when`s (and `default`) +#  to handle the exceptions you want:  try {    open 'foo';    CATCH { @@ -649,17 +706,17 @@ die X::AdHoc.new(payload => 'Error !');  # TODO CONTROL  ### Packages -# Packages are a way to reuse code. Packages are like "namespaces", and any element of the six model -#  (`module`, `role`, `class`, `grammar`, `subset` and `enum`) are actually packages. -#  (you can say that packages are the lowest common denomitor between them) -# Packages play a big part in a language, as Perl is well-known for CPAN, +# Packages are a way to reuse code. Packages are like "namespaces", and any +#  element of the six model (`module`, `role`, `class`, `grammar`, `subset` +#  and `enum`) are actually packages. (Packages are the lowest common denomitor) +# Packages play a big part in a language, especially as Perl is well-known for CPAN,  #  the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network. -# You usually don't use packages directly : you use `class Package::Name::Here;`, or if you -#  only want to export variables/subs, you can use `module`: -module Hello::World { # bracketed form -                      # if `Hello` doesn't exist yet, it'll just be created as an "empty package stub" -                      # that can be redeclared as something else later. -  # declarations here +# You usually don't use packages directly: you use `class Package::Name::Here;`, +# or if you only want to export variables/subs, you can use `module`: +module Hello::World { # Bracketed form +                      # If `Hello` doesn't exist yet, it'll just be a "stub", +                      #  that can be redeclared as something else later. +  # ... declarations here ...  }  module Parse::Text; # file-scoped form  grammar Parse::Text::Grammar { # A grammar is a fine package, which you could `use` @@ -692,7 +749,8 @@ my $actions = JSON::Tiny::Actions.new;  module Foo::Bar {    our $n = 1; # note: you can't put a type constraint on an `our` variable    our sub inc { -    our sub available { # if you try to make scoped `sub`s `our` ... Better know what you're doing (Don't !). +    our sub available { # If you try to make inner `sub`s `our`... +                        # Better know what you're doing (Don't !).        say "Don't do that. Seriously. You'd get burned.";      }      my sub unavailable { # `my sub` is the default @@ -725,23 +783,24 @@ sub fixed-rand {  fixed-rand for ^10; # will print the same number 10 times  # Note, however, that they exist separately in different enclosing contexts. -# If you declare a function with a `state` within a loop, it'll re-create the variable -# for each iteration of loop. See: +# If you declare a function with a `state` within a loop, it'll re-create the +#  variable for each iteration of the loop. See:  for ^5 -> $a {    sub foo {      state $val = rand; # This will be a different value for every value of `$a`    }    for ^5 -> $b { -    say foo; # This will print the same value 5 times, but only 5. Next iteration will re-run `rand` +    say foo; # This will print the same value 5 times, but only 5. +             # Next iteration will re-run `rand`.    }  }  ### Phasers -# Phasers in Perl 6 are blocks that happen at determined points of time in your program -# When the program is compiled, when a for loop runs, when you leave a block, when -#  an exception gets thrown ... (`CATCH` is actually a phaser !) +# Phasers in Perl 6 are blocks that happen at determined points of time in your +#  program. When the program is compiled, when a for loop runs, when you leave a +#  block, when an exception gets thrown ... (`CATCH` is actually a phaser !)  # Some of them can be used for their return values, some of them can't  #  (those that can have a "[*]" in the beginning of their explanation text).  # Let's have a look ! @@ -791,7 +850,7 @@ sub do-db-stuff {  # Those act a bit like phasers: they affect the behavior of the following code.  # Though, they run in-line with the executable code, so they're in lowercase.  # (`try` and `start` are theoretically in that list, but explained somewhere else) -# Note: all of these (except start) don't need explicit brackets (`{` and `}`) for their block. +# Note: all of these (except start) don't need explicit brackets `{` and `}`.  # - `do` (that you already saw) - runs a block or a statement as a term  # You can't normally use a statement as a value (or "term"): @@ -848,8 +907,9 @@ say nilthingie.perl; #=> Nil  ## Everybody loves operators ! Let's get more of them -## The precedence list can be found here : http://perlcabal.org/syn/S03.html#Operator_precedence -## But first, we need a little explanation about associativity : +# The precedence list can be found here: +# http://perlcabal.org/syn/S03.html#Operator_precedence +# But first, we need a little explanation about associativity:  # * Binary operators:  $a ! $b ! $c; # with a left-associative `!`, this is `($a ! $b) ! $c` @@ -864,8 +924,9 @@ $a ! $b ! $c; # with a list-associative `!`, this is `infix:<>`  !$a! # with non-associative `!`, this is illegal  ## Create your own operators ! -# Okay, you've been reading all of that, so I guess I should try to show you something exciting. -# I'll tell you a little secret (actually not): +# Okay, you've been reading all of that, so I guess I should try +#  to show you something exciting. +# I'll tell you a little secret (or not-so-secret):  # In Perl 6, all operators are actually just funny-looking subroutines.  # You can declare an operator just like you declare a sub: @@ -906,36 +967,46 @@ sub circumfix:<[ ]>(Int $n) {  say [5]; #=> 3125           # circumfix is around. Again, not whitespace. -sub postcircumfix:<{ }>(Str $s, Int $idx) { # post-circumfix is "after a term, around something" +sub postcircumfix:<{ }>(Str $s, Int $idx) { +  # post-circumfix is +  # "after a term, around something"    $s.substr($idx, 1);  }  say "abc"{1}; #=> b                # after the term `"abc"`, and around the index (1)  # This really means a lot -- because everything in Perl 6 uses this. -# For example, to delete a key from a hash, you use the `:delete` adverb (named argument) +# For example, to delete a key from a hash, you use the `:delete` adverb +#  (a simple named argument underneath):  %h{$key}:delete;  # equivalent to: -postcircumfix:<{ }>(%h, $key, :delete); -# It's *all* using the same building blocks! Syntactic categories (prefix infix ...), -#  named arguments (adverbs), ..., used to build the language are available to you. +postcircumfix:<{ }>(%h, $key, :delete); # (you can call operators like that) +# It's *all* using the same building blocks! +# Syntactic categories (prefix infix ...), named arguments (adverbs), ..., +#  - used to build the language - are available to you. -# (you are, obviously, recommended against making an operator out of *everything* -- -#  with great power comes great responsibility) +# (you are, obviously, recommended against making an operator out of +# *everything* -- with great power comes great responsibility)  ## Meta operators ! -# Oh boy, get ready. Get ready, because we're dwelving deep into the rabbit's hole, -#  and you probably won't want to go back to other languages after reading that. +# Oh boy, get ready. Get ready, because we're dwelving deep +#  into the rabbit's hole, and you probably won't want to go +#  back to other languages after reading that.  #  (I'm guessing you don't want to already at that point).  # Meta-operators, as their name suggests, are *composed* operators.  # Basically, they're operators that apply another operator.  ## * Reduce meta-operator -# It's a prefix meta-operator that takes a binary functions and one or many lists. -# If it doesn't get passed any argument, it either return a "default value" for this operator -#  (a value that'd be non-meaningful if contained in a list) or `Any` if there's none. +# It's a prefix meta-operator that takes a binary functions and +#  one or many lists. If it doesn't get passed any argument, +#  it either return a "default value" for this operator +#  (a value that wouldn't change the result if passed as one +#   of the element of the list to be passed to the operator), +#  or `Any` if there's none (examples below). +#  # Otherwise, it pops an element from the list(s) one at a time, and applies the binary function  #  to the last result (or the list's first element) and the popped element. +#  # To sum a list, you could use the reduce meta-operator with `+`, i.e.:  say [+] 1, 2, 3; #=> 6  # equivalent to `(1+2)+3` @@ -943,18 +1014,20 @@ say [*] 1..5; #=> 120  # equivalent to `((((1*2)*3)*4)*5)`.  # You can reduce with any operator, not just with mathematical ones. -# For example, you could reduce with `//` to get the first defined element of a list: +# For example, you could reduce with `//` to get +#  the first defined element of a list:  say [//] Nil, Any, False, 1, 5; #=> False                                  # (Falsey, but still defined)  # Default value examples: -say [*] (); #=> 1 -say [+] (); #=> 0 -            # In both cases, they're results that, if they were contained in the lists, -            # wouldn't have any impact on the final value (since N*1=N and N+0=N). +say [*] (); #=> 1  +say [+] (); #=> 0  +            # In both cases, they're results that, were they in the lists, +            #  wouldn't have any impact on the final value +            #  (since N*1=N and N+0=N).  say [//];   #=> (Any) -            # There's no "default value" for `//` +            # There's no "default value" for `//`.  # You can also call it with a function you made up, using double brackets:  sub add($a, $b) { $a + $b } @@ -980,23 +1053,31 @@ say [[&add]] 1, 2, 3; #=> 6  ## * Sequence operator  # The sequence operator is one of Perl 6's most powerful features: -# it's composed of first, on the left, the list you want Perl 6 to deduce from (and might include a closure), -# and on the right, a value or the predicate for when to stop, or even Whatever for a lazy infinite list. +# it's composed of first, on the left, the list you want Perl 6 to deduce from +#  (and might include a closure), and on the right, a value or the predicate +#  that says when to stop (or Whatever for a lazy infinite list).  my @list = 1, 2, 3 ... 10; # basic deducing -#my @list = 1, 3, 6 ... 10; # this throws you into an infinite loop, because Perl 6 can't figure out the end -my @list = 1, 2, 3 ...^ 10; # as with ranges, you can exclude the last element (when the predicate matches) -my @list = 1, 3, 9 ... * > 30; # you can use a predicate (with the Whatever Star, here) +#my @list = 1, 3, 6 ... 10; # this throws you into an infinite loop, +                            #  because Perl 6 can't figure out the end +my @list = 1, 2, 3 ...^ 10; # as with ranges, you can exclude the last element +                            # (the iteration when the predicate matches). +my @list = 1, 3, 9 ... * > 30; # you can use a predicate +                               # (with the Whatever Star, here).  my @list = 1, 3, 9 ... { $_ > 30 }; # (equivalent to the above) -my @fib = 1, 1, *+* ... *; # lazy infinite list of prime numbers, computed using a closure ! + +my @fib = 1, 1, *+* ... *; # lazy infinite list of prime numbers, +                           #  computed using a closure!  my @fib = 1, 1, -> $a, $b { $a + $b } ... *; # (equivalent to the above)  say @fib[^10]; #=> 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55                 # (using a range as the index)  # Note : as for ranges, once reified, elements aren't re-calculated. -# That's why `@primes[^100]` will take a long time the first time you print it, then be instant +# That's why `@primes[^100]` will take a long time the first time you print +#  it, then be instant.  ## * Sort comparison -# They return one value of the `Order` enum : `Less`, `Same` and `More` (which numerify to -1, 0 or +1). +# They return one value of the `Order` enum : `Less`, `Same` and `More` +#  (which numerify to -1, 0 or +1).  1 <=> 4; # sort comparison for numerics  'a' leg 'b'; # sort comparison for string  $obj eqv $obj2; # sort comparison using eqv semantics @@ -1014,14 +1095,17 @@ say Any // Nil // 0 // 5; #=> 5  say True ^^ False; #=> True  ## * Flip Flop -# The flip flop operators (`ff` and `fff`, equivalent to Perl 5/Ruby's `..` and `...`). +# The flip flop operators (`ff` and `fff`, equivalent to P5's `..`/`...`).  #  are operators that take two predicates to test: -# They are `False` until their left side returns `True`, then are `True` until their right side returns `True`. -# Like for ranges, you can exclude the iteration when it became `True`/`False` by using `^` on either side. +# They are `False` until their left side returns `True`, then are `True` until +#  their right side returns `True`. +# Like for ranges, you can exclude the iteration when it became `True`/`False` +#  by using `^` on either side.  # Let's start with an example :  for <well met young hero we shall meet later> {    # by default, `ff`/`fff` smart-match (`~~`) against `$_`: -  if 'met' ^ff 'meet' { # won't enter the if for "met" (explained in details below). +  if 'met' ^ff 'meet' { # Won't enter the if for "met" +                        #  (explained in details below).      .say    } @@ -1031,20 +1115,24 @@ for <well met young hero we shall meet later> {  }  # This will print "young hero we shall meet" (excluding "met"):  #  the flip-flop will start returning `True` when it first encounters "met" -#  (but will still return `False` for "met" itself, due to the leading `^` on `ff`), -#  until it sees "meet", which is when it'll start returning `False`. +#  (but will still return `False` for "met" itself, due to the leading `^` +#   on `ff`), until it sees "meet", which is when it'll start returning `False`.  # The difference between `ff` (awk-style) and `fff` (sed-style) is that -#  `ff` will test its right side just as its left side changes to `True`, -#  and can get back to `False` right away (*except* it'll be `True` for the iteration that matched) -#  while `fff` will wait for the next iteration to try its right side, once its left side changed: +#  `ff` will test its right side right when its left side changes to `True`, +#  and can get back to `False` right away +#  (*except* it'll be `True` for the iteration that matched) - +# While `fff` will wait for the next iteration to +#  try its right side, once its left side changed:  .say if 'B' ff 'B' for <A B C B A>; #=> B B -                                    # because the right-hand-side was tested directly (and returned `True`). +                                    # because the right-hand-side was tested +                                    # directly (and returned `True`).                                      # "B"s are still printed since it matched that time -                                    #  (it just went back to `False` right away) +                                    #  (it just went back to `False` right away).  .say if 'B' fff 'B' for <A B C B A>; #=> B C B -                                    # because the right-hand-side wasn't tested until `$_` became "C" -                                    # (and thus did not match directly). +                                    # because the right-hand-side wasn't tested until +                                    #  `$_` became "C" +                                    # (and thus did not match instantly).  # A flip-flop can change state as many times as needed:  for <test start print this stop you stopped printing start printing again stop not anymore> { @@ -1054,12 +1142,15 @@ for <test start print this stop you stopped printing start printing again stop n  # you might also use a Whatever Star,  # which is equivalent to `True` for the left side or `False` for the right: -for (1, 3, 60, 3, 40, 60) { # Note: the parenthesis are superfluous here -- sometimes called "superstitious" - .say if $_ > 50 ff *; # Once the flip-flop reaches a number greater than 50, it'll never go back to `False` +for (1, 3, 60, 3, 40, 60) { # Note: the parenthesis are superfluous here +                            # (sometimes called "superstitious parentheses") + .say if $_ > 50 ff *; # Once the flip-flop reaches a number greater than 50, +                       #  it'll never go back to `False`                         #=> 60 3 40 60  } -# You can also use this property to create an `If` that'll not execute the first time : +# You can also use this property to create an `If` +#  that'll not go through the first time :  for <a b c> {    .say if * ^ff *; # the flip-flop is `True` and never goes back to `False`,                     #  but the `^` makes it *not run* on the first iteration @@ -1072,28 +1163,33 @@ for <a b c> {  # Well, now that you know a good deal of Perl 6 already, we can get started.  # First off, you'll have to forget about "PCRE regexps" (perl-compatible regexps).  # -# IMPORTANT: You may feel like you already know these because you know PCRE. You'd be wrong. -# Some things are the same (like `?`, `+`, and `*`), but sometimes the semantics change (`|`). +# IMPORTANT: Don't skip them because you know PCRE. They're different. +# Some things are the same (like `?`, `+`, and `*`), +#  but sometimes the semantics change (`|`).  # Make sure you read carefully, because you might trip over a new behavior.  # -# Perl 6 has a looot of features related to RegExps. After all, Rakudo parses itself. -# We're first going to look at the syntax itself, then talk about grammars (PEG-like), -#  differences between the `token`, `regex` and `rule` keywords, and some more. +# Perl 6 has many features related to RegExps. After all, Rakudo parses itself. +# We're first going to look at the syntax itself, +#  then talk about grammars (PEG-like), differences between +#  `token`, `regex` and `rule` declarators, and some more.  # Side note: you still have access to PCRE regexps using the `:P5` modifier.  #  (we won't be discussing this in this tutorial, however)  #  # In essence, Perl 6 natively implements PEG ("Parsing Expression Grammars"). -# The pecking order for ambiguous parses is determined by a multi-level tie-breaking test: +# The pecking order for ambiguous parses is determined by a multi-level +#  tie-breaking test:  #  - Longest token matching. `foo\s+` beats `foo` (by 2 or more positions)  #  - Longest literal prefix. `food\w*` beats `foo\w*` (by 1) -#  - Declaration from most-derived to less derived grammars (grammars are actually classes) +#  - Declaration from most-derived to less derived grammars +#     (grammars are actually classes)  #  - Earliest declaration wins  say so 'a' ~~ /a/; #=> True  say so 'a' ~~ / a /; # More readable with some spaces! -# In all our examples, we're going to use the smart-matching operator against a regexp. -# We're converting the result using `so`, but in fact, it's returning a `Match` object. -# They know how to respond to list indexing, hash indexing (and return the matched string). +# In all our examples, we're going to use the smart-matching operator against +#  a regexp. We're converting the result using `so`, but in fact, it's +#  returning a `Match` object. They know how to respond to list indexing, +#  hash indexing, and return the matched string.  # The results of the match are also available as `$/` (implicitly lexically-scoped).  # You can also use the capture variables (`$0`, `$1`, ... - starting at 0, not 1 !).  # @@ -1101,8 +1197,8 @@ say so 'a' ~~ / a /; # More readable with some spaces!  #  (meaning the regexp can be matched with just one char of the string),  #  we're going to explain later how you can do it. -# In Perl 6, you can have any alphanumeric as a literal, everything else has to be escaped, -#  using a backslash or quotes. +# In Perl 6, you can have any alphanumeric as a literal, +# everything else has to be escaped, using a backslash or quotes.  say so 'a|b' ~~ / a '|' b /; # `True`. Wouln't mean the same if `|` wasn't escaped  say so 'a|b' ~~ / a \| b /; # `True`. Another way to escape it. @@ -1140,7 +1236,8 @@ so 'abbbbc' ~~ / a b* c /; # `True`  so 'aec' ~~ / a b* c /; # `False`. "b"(s) are optional, but can't be something else.  # - `**` - "Quantify It Yourself". -# If you squint hard enough, you might understand the why exponentation means quantity. +# If you squint hard enough, you might understand +#  why exponentation is used for quantity.  so 'abc' ~~ / a b ** 1 c /; # `True` (exactly one time)  so 'abc' ~~ / a b ** 1..3 c /; # `True` (one to three times)  so 'abbbc' ~~ / a b ** 1..3 c /; # `True` @@ -1151,11 +1248,12 @@ so 'abbbbbbc' ~~ / a b ** 3..* c /; # `True` (infinite ranges are okay)  # Group: you can group parts of your regexp with `[]`.  # These groups are *not* captured (like PCRE's `(?:)`).  so 'abc' ~~ / a [ b ] c /; # `True`. The grouping does pretty much nothing -so 'fooABCABCbar' ~~ / foo [ A B C ] + bar /; # `True`. -                                              # We match the "abc" 1 or more time. -                                              # (the `+` was applied to the group) +so 'fooABCABCbar' ~~ / foo [ A B C ] + bar /; +# The previous line returns `True`. +# We match the "abc" 1 or more time (the `+` was applied to the group). -# But this does not go far enough, because we can't actually get back what we matched. +# But this does not go far enough, because we can't actually get back what +#  we matched.  # Capture: We can actually *capture* the results of the regexp, using parentheses.  so 'fooABCABCbar' ~~ / foo ( A B C ) + bar /; # `True`. (we keep `so` here and use `$/` below) @@ -1165,13 +1263,15 @@ say $/; # Will print some weird stuff (we'll explain) (or "Nil" if nothing match  # As we also said before, it has array indexing:  say $/[0]; #=> 「ABC」 「ABC」 -           # These weird brackets are `Match` objects. So here, we have an array of that. -say $0; # the same as above. +           # These weird brackets are `Match` objects. +           # Here, we have an array of these. +say $0; # The same as above.  # Our capture is `$0` because it's the first and only one capture in the regexp.  # You might be wondering why it's an array, and the answer is simple:  # Some capture (indexed using `$0`, `$/[0]` or a named one) will be an array -#  IF it can have more than one element (so, with `*`, `+` and any `**`, but not with `?`). +#  IFF it can have more than one element +#  (so, with `*`, `+` and any `**`, but not with `?`).  # Let's use examples to see that:  so 'fooABCbar' ~~ / foo ( A B C )? bar /; # `True`  say $/[0]; #=> 「ABC」 @@ -1206,7 +1306,8 @@ sub MAIN($name) { say "Hello, you !" }  #      t.pl <name>   # And since it's a regular Perl 6 sub, you can haz multi-dispatch: -# (using a "Bool" for the named argument so that we get `--replace` instead of `--replace=`) +# (using a "Bool" for the named argument so that we get `--replace` +#  instead of `--replace=1`)  subset File of Str where *.IO.d; # convert to IO object, then check the file exists  multi MAIN('add', $key, $value, Bool :$replace) { ... } @@ -1218,8 +1319,9 @@ multi MAIN('import', File, Str :$as) { ... } # omitting parameter name  #      t.pl [--replace] add <key> <value>   #      t.pl remove <key>  #      t.pl [--as=<Str>] import (File) -# As you can see, this is *very* powerful. It even went as far as to show inline the constants. -# (the type is only displayed if 1. there's no argument name 2. it's a named argument) +# As you can see, this is *very* powerful. +# It even went as far as to show inline the constants. +# (the type is only displayed if the argument is `$`/is named)  ```  If you want to go further, you can: | 
