note adrianh <blockquote> <p><em>On the other hand, I'd also like to see a few examples of what people would use a macro facility for in Perl. Assuming that p5 had a C-like</em></p> <code> #define name(arg[,arg]) {\ some code here\ } </code> </blockquote> <p>I wouldn't use it for C-like purposes. C-like macros are not that powerful - you can only do basic textual substitutions. To quote [http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2003/04/09/synopsis.html|Synopsis 6]:</p> <blockquote> Macros (keyword: macro) are routines whose calls execute as soon as they are parsed (i.e. at compile-time). Macros may return another source code string or a parse-tree. </blockquote> <p>Returning a parse-tree is where it gets interesting. What we get here are LISPish macros. We'll be able to write code that's run at compile time to create our own syntax.</p> <p>Want a switch statement in Perl6? Just write one.</p> <p>Want to add AOP or Design by Contract support to Perl6? Just write some new syntax.</p> <p>Want to create a domain-specific language so you can write code that more directly reflects the problem domain? Yes - you guessed it - just write some new syntax!</p> <p>There's a [http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=20021023214308.GA746%40chianti|discussion of macros] on perl.perl6.language that you might find interesting. Also read the relevant bit of [http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2003/03/07/apocalypse6.html?page=9|Apocalypse 6].</p> <p>Macros - can't wait ;-)</p> <p><strong>Update:</strong> Just come across [id://163877], which has some relevant material for those who are interested.</p> 265084 265146