What's the point of Perl golf?

Question

Perl golf is a programmers' game which involves solving a problem with the shortest perl program possible. (ie, the winner is the person who completes the round in the lowest number of (key)strokes).

Answer 1

The point is fun and competition.

Answer 2

What's the point of the obfuscated C code contest? Or any other such thing? It's just another programmer passtime, and another way to practice your skill, sharpen your mind and have a fun competition with fellow programmers.

Answer 3

Multiple points, depending where you look it from:

• Playing it is fun.
• Reading it is instructive.

Answer 4

Perl golf is primarily a mental exercise; it's a constrained problem done mostly for fun and for the challenge.

However, just as obfuscation challenges (which exist, AFAIK, in C and Perl) help one learn about the importance of writing clear and maintainable code, "golf" helps one learn that just because it can be done in fewer characters doesn't mean it should be.

Mostly, though, it's just good fun!

Answer 5

If nothing else Perl Golf will make you read perlrun, perlfunc, perlsyn and perlre very very carefully looking for ways to shave off a character or two.

And the knowledge gained along the way (although probably not the techniques) can be useful.

Answer 6

Giving you an opportunity to explore language features which you don't use normally. Gaining some insight into Perl's inner workings. And it's a programming challenge.

Answer 7

It's a fun way to test your knowledge of the language; it gives you an excuse to try out some of Perl's features, to learn about features you're not familiar with, to challenge yourself, and to have fun.

I really suck at Perl golf, but I still enjoy the challenge.

Answer 8

Because it's more environmentally friendly than playing real golf?

Answer 9

What is the point in playing football?