Re: Is modifying the symbol table to redefine subroutines evil?

[NetWallah]

Assuming code-tampering is not an issue, how about this:

my $foo; # Global, because this is the only visible (subroutine ref)

$foo=sub{
   print qq[First call - do first processing here \n];
   # First processing code goes here ...   
   
   # Now setup for subsequent calls .... 
  $foo=sub{
     print qq[subsequent calls\n]
     # Code for subsequent calls goes here
  }
};

$foo->() for 0..5; # OK - so the subroutine call looks slightly weird 
+to newbies.

Unfortunately, Murphy's laws will kick in if the caller decides to use a copy/clone of the $foo scalar, so don't do that.