From: Paul Brannan <pbrannan@...>
Date: 2003-05-03T04:00:19+09:00
Subject: Re: temporary redirection of stdout

On Fri, May 02, 2003 at 11:57:55PM +0900, Andrew Walrond wrote:
> Paul Brannan wrote:
> >This makes sso refer to the same object as $stdout does...
> >
> 
> Agreed; they are both references right?

Yes.

> >... but since $stdout is a hooked variable, this doesn't change the
> >object that $stdout refers to; it instead calls dup2() on the underlying
> >file descriptor...
> >
> 
> Hooked variable? So $stdout isn't a reference after all?

It is a reference, but you cannot change what object it is referring to.
When you think you are doing assignment, you are actually calling a C
function that calls dup2().

> >... so that when you get here, this statement is no different from:
> >
> >  $stdout = $stdout
> 
> Agreed, if $stdout wasn't actually a reference

It is a reference, but a special kind of reference.

Paul