Re: [Module::Build] Buglet: Creative use of $VERSION confuses M::B

[Johan V. <jvr...@sq...>]

John Peacock <jpe...@ro...> writes:

> If that second section was reformatted to:
> ...
> it wouldn't match the regex and hence not issue the warning.

(Also responding to Nick's reply)

BIG DISCLAIMER: Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.
BIG DISCLAIMER: I'm not blaming M::B, the problem is much more
                fundamental. 

Fact of the matter is that Perl uses the value of $VERSION as it is
upon completion of the load, which implies that any method using
static parsing may lead to surprises.

    package Foo;

    $VERSION = 1;

    $VERSION++;

    if ( -s "/etc/passwd" == 2011 ) {
        $VERSION *=2;
    }

    1;

This indeed is version 2 or 4, depending on your /etc/passwd. 

Probably the best pseudo-solution to this pseudo-parsing problem is to
stop parsing after the first successful assignment, and put a remark
in the documentation.

-- Johan