Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitPostfixControls - Write C<if($condition){ do_something() }> instead of C<do_something() if $condition>.


Perl-Critic documentation Contained in the Perl-Critic distribution.

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NAME

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Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitPostfixControls - Write if($condition){ do_something() } instead of do_something() if $condition.

AFFILIATION

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This Policy is part of the core Perl::Critic distribution.

DESCRIPTION

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Conway discourages using postfix control structures (if, for, unless, until, when, while) because they hide control flow. The unless and until controls are particularly evil because they lead to double-negatives that are hard to comprehend. The only tolerable usage of a postfix if/when is when it follows a loop break such as last, next, redo, or continue.

    do_something() if $condition;           # not ok
    if ($condition) { do_something() }      # ok

    do_something() while $condition;        # not ok
    while ($condition) { do_something() }   # ok

    do_something() unless $condition;       # not ok
    do_something() unless ! $condition;     # really bad
    if (! $condition) { do_something() }    # ok

    do_something() until $condition;        # not ok
    do_something() until ! $condition;      # really bad
    while (! $condition) { do_something() } # ok

    do_something($_) for @list;             # not ok

    LOOP:
    for my $n (0..100) {
        next if $condition;                 # ok
        last LOOP if $other_condition;      # also ok

        next when m< 0 \z >xms;             # fine too
    }




CONFIGURATION

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A set of constructs to be ignored by this policy can specified by giving a value for 'allow' of a string of space-delimited keywords: if, for, unless, until, when, and/or while. An example of specifying allowed flow-control structures in a .perlcriticrc file:

    [ControlStructures::ProhibitPostfixControls]
    allow = for if until

By default, all postfix control keywords are prohibited.

The set of flow-control functions that are exempt from the restriction can also be configured with the 'flowcontrol' directive in your .perlcriticrc file:

    [ControlStructures::ProhibitPostfixControls]
    flowcontrol = warn die carp croak cluck confess goto exit

This is useful if you're using additional modules that add things like assert or throw.

NOTES

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The die, croak, and confess functions are frequently used as flow-controls just like next or last. So this Policy does permit you to use a postfix if when the statement begins with one of those functions. It is also pretty common to use warn, carp, and cluck with a postfix if, so those are allowed too.

The when keyword was added to the language after Perl Best Practices was written. This policy treats when the same way it does if, i.e. it's allowed after flow-control constructs. Thanks to brian d foy for the inspiration.

BUGS

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Look for the do {} while case and change the explanation to point to page 123 when it is found. RT #37905.

AUTHOR

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Jeffrey Ryan Thalhammer <jeff@imaginative-software.com>

COPYRIGHT

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Perl-Critic documentation Contained in the Perl-Critic distribution.

##############################################################################
#      $URL: http://perlcritic.tigris.org/svn/perlcritic/trunk/distributions/Perl-Critic/lib/Perl/Critic/Policy/ControlStructures/ProhibitPostfixControls.pm $
#     $Date: 2011-05-15 16:34:46 -0500 (Sun, 15 May 2011) $
#   $Author: clonezone $
# $Revision: 4078 $
##############################################################################

package Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitPostfixControls;

use 5.006001;
use strict;
use warnings;
use Readonly;

use Perl::Critic::Utils qw{ :characters :severities :data_conversion :classification };
use base 'Perl::Critic::Policy';

our $VERSION = '1.116';

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Readonly::Hash my %PAGES_OF => (
    if      => [ 93, 94 ],
    unless  => [ 96, 97 ],
    until   => [ 96, 97 ],
    for     => [ 96     ],
    foreach => [ 96     ],
    while   => [ 96     ],
    when    => q<Similar to "if", postfix "when" should only be used with flow-control>,
);

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

sub supported_parameters {
    return (
        {
            name               => 'allow',
            description        => 'The permitted postfix controls.',
            default_string     => $EMPTY,
            behavior           => 'enumeration',
            enumeration_values => [ sort keys %PAGES_OF ],
            enumeration_allow_multiple_values   => 1,
        },
        {
            name               => 'flowcontrol',
            description        => 'The exempt flow control functions.',
            default_string     => 'carp cluck confess croak die exit goto warn',
            behavior           => 'string list',
        },
    );
}

sub default_severity { return $SEVERITY_LOW         }
sub default_themes   { return qw(core pbp cosmetic) }
sub applies_to       { return 'PPI::Token::Word'    }

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

sub violates {
    my ( $self, $elem, undef ) = @_;

    my $expl = $PAGES_OF{$elem};
    return if not $expl;

    return if is_hash_key($elem);
    return if is_method_call($elem);
    return if is_subroutine_name($elem);
    return if is_included_module_name($elem);
    return if is_package_declaration($elem);

    # Skip controls that are allowed
    return if exists $self->{_allow}->{ $elem->content() };

    # Skip Compound variety (these are good)
    my $stmnt = $elem->statement();
    return if not $stmnt;
    return if $stmnt->isa('PPI::Statement::Compound');
    return if $stmnt->isa('PPI::Statement::When');

    # Handle special cases
    my $content = $elem->content();
    if ($content eq 'if' or $content eq 'when') {
        # Postfix 'if' allowed with loop breaks, or other
        # flow-controls like 'die', 'warn', and 'croak'
        return if $stmnt->isa('PPI::Statement::Break');
        return if defined $self->{_flowcontrol}{ $stmnt->schild(0)->content() };
    }

    # If we get here, it must be postfix.
    my $desc = qq{Postfix control "$content" used};
    return $self->violation($desc, $expl, $elem);
}

1;

__END__

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