note JavaFan The entire point of the argument is that <c>perl</c> <em>doesn't</em> first completely parse the program before it runs it. When executing a Perl program <c>perl</c> alternates between parsing and running. That's what <c>BEGIN</c> is about (and hence, <c>use</c>). <p> The article proves that it's actually <em>impossible</em> to do otherwise. That is, there does not (and will not) exist a program that first completely parses a Perl program, then executes it. (Well, at least not as long as Perl remains as it is). 663393 838889