Arrays

    # use autobox::Core for ->map etc.

    # filter (like a more versatile grep)
    $book_locations->filter(); # true values
    $books->filter(sub { $_->is_in_library($library) });
    $book_names->filter( qr/lord/i );
    $book_genres->filter("scifi");
    $book_genres->filter({ fantasy => 1, scifi => 1 }); # hash key exists

    # reject: the inverse of filter
    $book_genres->reject("fantasy");

    # order (like a more succinct sort)
    $book_genres->order;
    $book_genres->order("desc");
    $book_prices->order([ "num", "desc" ]);
    $books->order([ sub { $_->{price} }, "desc", "num" ]);
    $log_lines->order([ num => qr/pid: "(\d+)"/ ]);
    $books->order(
        [ sub { $_->{price} }, "desc", "num" ] # first price
        sub { $_->{name} },                    # then name
    );

    # group (aggregate) array into hash
    $book_genres->group;       # "Sci-fi" => "Sci-fi"
    $book_genres->group_count; # "Sci-fi" => 3
    $book_genres->group_array; # "Sci-fi" => [ "Sci-fi", "Sci-fi", "Sci-fi"]

    # Flatten arrayrefs-of-arrayrefs
      $authors->map_by("books") # ->books returns an arrayref
      # [ [ $book1, $book2 ], [ $book3 ] ]
      $authors->map_by("books")->flat;
      # [ $book1, $book2, $book3 ]

    # Return reference, even in list context, e.g. in a parameter list
    $book_locations->filter()->to_ref;

    # Return array, even in scalar context
    @books->to_array;

    # Turn paired items into a hash
    @titles_books->to_hash;

Arrays where the items are hashrefs/objects

    # $books and $authors below are arrayrefs with either objects or
    # hashrefs (the call syntax is the same). These have methods/hash
    # keys like C<$book->genre()>, C<$book->{is_in_stock}>,
    # C<$book->is_in_library($library)>, etc.

    $books->map_by("genre");
    $books->map_by([ price_with_tax => $tax_pct ]);

    $books->filter_by("is_in_stock");
    $books->filter_by([ is_in_library => $library ]);
    $books->filter_by([ price_with_tax => $rate ], sub { $_ > 56.00 });
    $books->filter_by("price", sub { $_ > 56.00 });
    $books->filter_by("author", "James A. Corey");
    $books->filter_by("author", qr/corey/i);

    # grep_by is an alias for filter_by
    $books->grep_by("is_in_stock");

    # reject_by: the inverse of filter_by
    $books->reject_by("is_sold_out");

    $books->uniq_by("id");

    $books->order_by("name");
    $books->order_by(name => "desc");
    $books->order_by(price => "num");
    $books->order_by(price => [ "num", "desc" ]);
    $books->order_by(name => [ sub { uc($_) }, "desc" ]);
    $books->order_by([ price_with_tax => $rate ] => "num");
    $books->order_by(
        author => "str",             # first by author
        price  => [ "num", "desc" ], # then by price, most expensive first
    );
    $books->order_by(
        author                      => [ "desc", sub { uc($_) } ],
        [ price_with_tax => $rate ] => [ "num", "desc" ],
        "name",
    );


    $books->group_by("title"),
    # {
    #     "Leviathan Wakes"       => $books->[0],
    #     "Caliban's War"         => $books->[1],
    #     "The Tree-Body Problem" => $books->[2],
    #     "The Name of the Wind"  => $books->[3],
    # },

    $authors->group_by([ publisher_affiliation => "with" ]),
    # {
    #     'James A. Corey with Orbit'     => $authors->[0],
    #     'Cixin Liu with Head of Zeus'   => $authors->[1],
    #     'Patrick Rothfuss with Gollanz' => $authors->[2],
    # },

    $books->group_by_count("genre"),
    # {
    #     "Sci-fi"  => 3,
    #     "Fantasy" => 1,
    # },

    my $genre_books = $books->group_by_array("genre");
    # {
    #     "Sci-fi"  => [ $sf_book_1, $sf_book_2, $sf_book_3 ],
    #     "Fantasy" => [ $fantasy_book_1 ],
    # },

Hashes

    # map over each pair
    # e.g. Upper-case the genre name, and make the count say "n books"
    #     (return a key => value pair)
    $genre_count->map_each(sub { uc( $_[0] ) => "$_ books" });
    # {
    #     "FANTASY" => "1 books",
    #     "SCI-FI"  => "3 books",
    # },

    # map over each value
    # e.g. Make the count say "n books"
    #     (return the new value)
    $genre_count->map_each_value(sub { "$_ books" });
    # {
    #     "Fantasy" => "1 books",
    #     "Sci-fi"  => "3 books",
    # },

    # map each pair into an array
    # e.g. Transform each pair to the string "n: genre"
    #     (return list of items)
    $genre_count->map_each_to_array(sub { "$_: $_[0]" });
    # [ "1: Fantasy", "3: Sci-fi" ]

    # filter each pair
    # Genres with more than five books
    $genre_count->filter_each(sub { $_ > 5 });

    # filter out each pair
    # Genres with more than five books
    $genre_count->reject_each(sub { $_ <= 5 });


    # Return reference, even in list context, e.g. in a parameter list
    %genre_count->to_ref;

    # Return hash, even in scalar context
    $author->book_count->to_hash;

    # Turn key-value pairs into an array
    %isbn__book->to_array;

Combined examples

    my $order_authors = $order->books
        ->filter_by("title", qr/^The/)
        ->uniq_by("isbn")
        ->map_by("author")
        ->uniq_by("name")
        ->order_by(publisher => "str", name => "str")
        ->map_by("name")->uniq->join(", ");

    my $total_order_amount = $order->books
        ->reject_by("is_sold_out")
        ->filter_by([ covered_by_vouchers => $vouchers ], sub { ! $_ })
        ->map_by([ price_with_tax => $tax_pct ])
        ->sum;

Transforming lists of objects vs list of hashrefs

These methods are called the same way regardless of whether the array contains objects or hashrefs. The items in the list must be either all objects or all hashrefs.

If the array contains hashrefs, the hash key is looked up on each item.

If the array contains objects, a method is called on each object (possibly with the arguments provided).

Calling accessor methods with arguments

For method calls, it's possible to provide arguments to the method.

Consider "map_by":

    $array->map_by($accessor)

If the $accessor is a string, it's a simple method call.

    # method call without args
    $books->map_by("price")
    # becomes $_->price() or $_->{price}

If the $accessor is an arrayref, the first item is the method name, and the rest of the items are the arguments to the method.

    # method call with args
    $books->map_by([ price_with_discount => 5.0 ])
    # becomes $_->price_with_discount(5.0)

Filter predicates

The "reject" family of methods do the opposite, and filter out items that match the predicate, i.e. the opposite of the filter methods.

If $predicate is an unblessed scalar, it is compared to each value with "string eq".

    $books->filter_by("author", "James A. Corey");

If $predicate is a regex, it is compared to each value with "=~".

    $books->reject_by("author", qr/Corey/);

If $predicate is a hashref, values in @array are retained if the $predicate hash key "exists" (the hash values are irrelevant).

    $books->filter_by(
        "author", {
            "James A. Corey"   => undef,
            "Cixin Liu"        => 0,
            "Patrick Rothfuss" => 1,
        },
    );

If $predicate is a subref, the subref is called for each value to check whether this item should remain in the list.

The $predicate subref should return a true value to remain. $_ is set to the current $value.

    $authors->filter_by(publisher => sub { $_->name =~ /Orbit/ });

Sorting using order and order_by

Sorting with sort

• provide a sub that returns the comparison outcome of two values: $a and $b
• in case of a tie, provide another comparison of $a and $b

    # If the name is the same, compare age (oldest first)
    sort {
        uc( $a->{name} ) cmp uc( $b->{name} )           # first comparison
        ||
        int( $b->{age} / 10 ) <=> int( $a->{age} / 10 ) # second comparison
    } @users

(note the opposite order of $a and $b for the age comparison, something that's often difficult to discern at a glance)

Sorting with order, order_by

•

Provide order options for how one value should be compared with the others:

•

In case of a tie, provide another comparison

    # If the name is the same, compare age (oldest first)

    # ->order
    @users->order(
        sub { uc( $_->{name} ) },                         # first comparison
        [ "num", sub { int( $_->{age} / 10 ) }, "desc" ], # second comparison
    )

    # ->order_by
    @users->order_by(
        name => sub { uc },                                # first comparison
        age  => [ num => desc => sub { int( $_ / 10 ) } ], # second comparison
    )

Comparison Options

If there's only one option for a comparison (e.g. "num"), provide a single option (string/regex/subref) value. If there are many options, provide them in an arrayref in any order.

Comparison operator

• "str" (cmp) - default
• "num" (<=>)

Sort order

• "asc" (ascending) - default
• "desc" (descending)

The value to compare

•

A subref - default is: "sub { $_ }"

•

A regex, e.g. "qr/id: (\d+)/"

Examples of a single comparison

    # order: the first arg is the comparison options (one or an
    # arrayref with many options)
    ->order()  # Defaults to str, asc, $_, just like sort
    ->order("num")
    ->order(sub { uc($_) })
    # compare captured matches, e.g. "John" and "Doe" as "JohnDoe"
    ->order( qr/first_name: (\w+), last_name: (\w+)/ )
    ->order([ num => qr/id: (\d+)/ ])
    ->order([ sub { int($_) }, "num" ])

    # order_by: the first arg is the accessor, just like with
    # map_by. Second arg is the comparison options (one or an arrayref
    # with many options)
    ->order_by("id")
    ->order_by("id", "num")
    ->order_by("id", [ "num", "desc" ])
    ->order_by("name", sub { uc($_) })
    ->order_by(log_line => qr/first_name: (\w+), last_name: (\w+)/ )
    ->order_by("log_line", [ num => qr/id: (\d+)/ ])
    ->order_by(age => [ sub { int($_) }, "num" ])

    # compare int( $a->age_by_interval(10) )
    ->order_by([ age_by_interval => 10 ] => [ sub { int($_) }, "num" ])
    # compare uc( $a->name_with_title($title) )
    ->order_by([ name_with_title => $title ], sub { uc($_) })

Examples of fallback comparisons

When the first comparison is a tie, the subsequent ones are used.

    # order: list of comparison options (one or an arrayref with many
    # options, per comparison)
    ->order(
        [ sub { $_->{price} }, "num" ], # First a numeric comparison of price
        [ sub { $_->{name} }, "desc" ], # or if same, a reverse comparison of the name
    )
    ->order(
        [ sub { uc($_) }, "desc" ],
        "str",
    )
    ->order(
        qr/type: (\w+)/,
        [ num => desc => qr/duration: (\d+)/ ]
        [ num => sub { /id: (\d+)/ } ],
        "str",
    )

    # order_by: pairs of accessor-comparison options
    ->order_by(
        price => "num", # First a numeric comparison of price
        name => "desc", # or if same, a reverse comparison of the name
    )
    ->order_by(
        price => [ "num", "desc" ],
        name  => "str",
    )
    # accessor is a method call with arg: $_->price_with_discount($discount)
    ->order_by(
        [ price_with_discount => $discount ] => [ "num", "desc" ],
        name                                 => [ str => sub { uc($_) } ],
        "id",
    )

List and Scalar Context

Beware: you might be in list context when you need an arrayref.

When in doubt, assume they work like "map" and "grep" (i.e. return a list), and convert the return value to references where you might have an non-obvious list context. E.g.

Incorrect

    $self->my_method(
        # Wrong, this is list context and wouldn't return an array ref
        books => $books->filter_by("is_published"),
    );

Correct

    $self->my_method(
        # Correct, put the returned list in an anonymous array ref
        books => [ $books->filter_by("is_published") ],
    );
    $self->my_method(
        # Correct, ensure scalar context to get an array ref
        books => scalar $books->filter_by("is_published"),
    );

    # Probably the nicest, since ->to_ref goes at the end
    $self->my_method(
        # Correct, use ->to_ref to ensure an array ref is returned
        books => $books->filter_by("is_published")->to_ref,
    );

@array->filter($predicate = *is_true_subref*) : @array | @$array

$predicate can be a subref, string, undef, regex, or hashref. See "Filter predicates".

The default (no $predicate) is a subref which retains true values in the @array.

Examples

    my @apples     = $fruit->filter("apple");
    my @any_apple  = $fruit->filter( qr/apple/i );
    my @publishers = $authors->filter(
        sub { $_->publisher->name =~ /Orbit/ },
    );

filter and grep

autobox::Core's "grep" method takes a subref, just like this method. "filter" also supports the other predicate types, like string, regex, etc.

@array->reject($predicate = *is_false_subref*) : @array | @$array

$predicate can be a subref, string, undef, regex, or hashref. See "Filter predicates".

The default (no $predicate) is a subref which filters out true values in the @array.

Examples:

    my @apples     = $fruit->reject("apple");
    my @no_apples  = $fruit->reject( qr/apple/i );
    my @publishers = $authors->reject(
        sub { $_->publisher->name =~ /Orbit/ },
    );

@array->order(@comparisons = ("str")) : @array | @$array

If the first item in @comparison ends in a tie, the next one is used, etc.

Each comparison consists of a single option or an arrayref of options, e.g. "str"/"num", "asc"/"desc", or a subref/regex. See "Sorting using order and order_by" for details about how these work.

Examples:

    @book_genres->order;
    @book_genres->order("desc");
    @book_prices->order([ "num", "desc" ]);
    @books->order([ sub { $_->{price} }, "desc", "num" ]);
    @log_lines->order([ num => qr/pid: "(\d+)"/ ]);
    @books->order(
        [ sub { $_->{price} }, "desc", "num" ] # first price
        sub { $_->{name} },                    # then name
    );

@array->group($value_subref = item) : %key_value | %$key_value

The default $value_subref puts each item in the list as the hash value. If the key is repeated, the value is overwritten with the last object.

Example:

    my $title_book = $book_titles->group;
    # {
    #     "Leviathan Wakes"       => "Leviathan Wakes",
    #     "Caliban's War"         => "Caliban's War",
    #     "The Tree-Body Problem" => "The Tree-Body Problem",
    #     "The Name of the Wind"  => "The Name of the Wind",
    # },

The $value_subref

For simple cases of just grouping a single key to a single value, the $value_subref is straightforward to use.

The hash key is the array item. The hash value is whatever is returned from

    my $new_value = $value_sub->($current_value, $object, $key);

• $current value is the current hash value for this key (or undef if the first one).
• $object is the current item in the list. The current $_ is also set to this.
• $key is the array item.

See also: "->group_by".

@array->group_count : %key_count | %$key_count

Example:

    $book_genres->group_count;
    # {
    #     "Sci-fi"  => 3,
    #     "Fantasy" => 1,
    # },

There are three books counted for the "Sci-fi" key.

@array->group_array : %key_objects | %$key_objects

Example:

    $book_genres->group_array;
    # {
    #     "Sci-fi"  => [ "Sci-fi", "Sci-fi", "Sci-fi" ],
    #     "Fantasy" => [ "Fantasy" ],
    # },

The three Sci-fi genres are collected under the Sci-fi key.

@array->flat() : @array | @$array

    [
        [ 1, 2, 3 ],
        [ "a", "b" ],
        [ [ 1, 2 ], { 3 => 4 } ]
    ]->flat

returns

    [ 1, 2, 3, "a", "b ", [ 1, 2 ], { 3 => 4 } ]

This is useful if e.g. a "->map_by("some_method")" returns arrayrefs of objects which you want to do further method calls on. Example:

    # ->books returns an arrayref of Book objects with a ->title
    $authors->map_by("books")->flat->map_by("title")

Note: This is different from autobox::Core's "->flatten", which reurns a list rather than an array and therefore can't be used in this way.

@array->to_ref() : $arrayref

Useful for ensuring the last array method return a reference while in scalar context. Typically:

    do_stuff(
        books => $author->map_by("books")->to_ref,
    );

map_by is called in list context, so without "->to_ref" it would have return an array, not an arrayref.

@array->to_array() : @array

@array->to_hash() : %hash | %$hash

Useful if you need to continue calling %hash methods on it.

Die if there aren't an even number of items in @array.

@array->map_by($accessor) : @array | @$array

Call the $accessor on each object in @array, or get the hash key value on each hashref in @array. Like:

    map { $_->$accessor() } @array
    # or
    map { $_->{$accessor} } @array

Examples:

    my @author_names = $authors->map_by("name");
    my $author_names = @publishers->map_by("authors")->flat->map_by("name");

Or get the hash key value. Example:

    my @review_scores = $reviews->map_by("score");

Alternatively for when @array contains objects, the $accessor can be an arrayref. The first item is the method name, and the rest of the items are passed as args in the method call. This obviously won't work when the @array contains hashrefs.

Examples:

    my @prices_including_tax = $books->map_by([ "price_with_tax", $tax_pct ]);
    my $prices_including_tax = $books->map_by([ price_with_tax => $tax_pct ]);

@array->filter_by($accessor, $predicate = *is_true_subref*) : @array | @$array

Call the $accessor on each object in the list, or get the hash key value on each hashref in the list.

Example:

    my @prolific_authors = $authors->filter_by("is_prolific");

Alternatively the $accessor is an arrayref. The first item is the accessor name, and the rest of the items are passed as args the method call. This only works when working with objects, not with hashrefs.

Example:

    my @books_to_charge_for = $books->filter_by([ price_with_tax => $tax_pct ]);

Use the $predicate to determine whether the value should remain. $predicate can be a subref, string, undef, regex, or hashref. See "Filter predicates".

The default (no $predicate) is a subref which retains true values in the result @array.

Examples:

    # Custom predicate subref
    my @authors = $authors->filter_by(
        "publisher",
        sub { $_->name =~ /Orbit/ },
    );

    # Call method with args and match a regex
    my @authors = $authors->filter_by(
        [ publisher_affiliation => "with" ],
        qr/Orbit/ },
    );

Note: if you do something complicated with a $predicate subref, it might be easier and more readable to simply use "$array-$<gt"filter()>.

Alias

"grep_by" is an alias for "filter_by". Unlike "grep" vs "filter", this one works exaclty the same way.

@array->reject_by($accessor, $predicate = *is_false_subref*) : @array | @$array

Example:

    my @unproductive_authors = $authors->reject_by("is_prolific");

The default (no $predicate) is a subref which filters out true values in the result @array.

@array->uniq_by($accessor) : @array | @$array

Call the $"accessor" on each object in the list, or get the hash key value on each hashref in the list. Return list of items which have a unique set of return values. The order is preserved. On duplicates, keep the first occurrence.

Examples:

    # You have gathered multiple Author objects with duplicate ids
    my @authors = $authors->uniq_by("author_id");

Alternatively the $accessor is an arrayref. The first item is the accessor name, and the rest of the items are passed as args the method call. This only works when working with objects, not with hashrefs.

Examples:

    my @example_book_at_price_point = $books->uniq_by(
        [ price_with_tax => $tax_pct ],
    );

@array->order_by(@accessor_comparison_pairs) : @array | @$array

The comparison value comes from an initial "@array-"map_by($accessor)> for each accessor-comparison pair. It is important that the $accessor call returns exactly a single scalar that can be compared with the other values.

It then works just like with "->order".

    $books->order_by("name"); # default order, i.e. "str"
    $books->order_by(price => "num");
    $books->order_by(price => [ "num", "desc" ]);

As with "map_by", if the $accessor is used on an object, the method call can include arguments.

    $books->order_by([ price_wih_tax => $tax_rate ] => "num");

Just like with "order", the value returned by the accessor can be transformed using a sub, or be matched against a regex.

    $books->order_by(price => [ num => sub { int($_) } ]);

    # Ignore leading "The" in book titles by optionally matching it
    # with a non-capturing group and the rest with a capturing group
    # paren
    $books->order_by( title => qr/^ (?: The \s+ )? (.+) /x );

If a comparison is missing for the last pair, the default is a normal "str" comparison.

    $books->order_by("name"); # default "str"

If the first comparison ends in a tie, the next pair is used, etc. Note that in order to provide accessor-comparison pairs, it's often necessary to provide a default "str" comparison just to make it a pair.

    $books->order_by(
        author => "str",
        price  => [ "num", "desc" ],
    );

@array->group_by($accessor, $value_subref = object) : %key_value | %$key_value

Call "->$accessor" on each object in the array, or get the hash key for each hashref in the array (just like "->map_by") and group the values as keys in a hashref.

The default $value_subref puts each object in the list as the hash value. If the key is repeated, the value is overwritten with the last object.

Example:

    my $title_book = $books->group_by("title");
    # {
    #     "Leviathan Wakes"       => $books->[0],
    #     "Caliban's War"         => $books->[1],
    #     "The Tree-Body Problem" => $books->[2],
    #     "The Name of the Wind"  => $books->[3],
    # },

The $value_subref

For simple cases of just grouping a single key to a single value, the $value_subref is straightforward to use.

The hash key is whatever is returned from "$object->$accessor".

The hash value is whatever is returned from

    my $new_value = $value_sub->($current_value, $object, $key);

• $current value is the current hash value for this key (or undef if the first one).
• $object is the current item in the list. The current $_ is also set to this.
• $key is the key returned by $object->$accessor(@$args)

A simple example would be to group by the accessor, but instead of the object used as the value you want to look up an attribute on each object:

    my $book_id__author = $books->group_by("id", sub { $_->author });
    # keys: book id; values: author

If you want to create an aggregate value the $value_subref can be a bit tricky to use, so the most common thing would probably be to use one of the more specific group_by-methods (see below). It should be capable enough to achieve what you need though.

@array->group_by_count($accessor) : %key_count | %$key_count

Just like "group_by", but the hash values are the the number of instances each $accessor value occurs in the list.

Example:

    $books->group_by_count("genre"),
    # {
    #     "Sci-fi"  => 3,
    #     "Fantasy" => 1,
    # },

"$book->genre()" returns the genre string. There are three books counted for the "Sci-fi" key.

@array->group_by_array($accessor) : %key_objects | %$key_objects

Just like "group_by", but the hash values are arrayrefs containing the objects which has each $accessor value.

Example:

    my $genre_books = $books->group_by_array("genre");
    # {
    #     "Sci-fi"  => [ $sf_book_1, $sf_book_2, $sf_book_3 ],
    #     "Fantasy" => [ $fantasy_book_1 ],
    # },

$book->genre() returns the genre string. The three Sci-fi book objects are collected under the Sci-fi key.

%hash->map_each($key_value_subref) : %new_hash | %$new_hash

"$key_value_subref->($key, $value)" is called for each pair (with $_ set to the value).

The subref should return an even-numbered list with zero or more key-value pairs which will make up the %new_hash. Typically two items are returned in the list (the key and the value).

Example

    { a => 1, b => 2 }->map_each(sub { "$_[0]$_[0]" => $_ * 2 });
    # Returns { aa => 2, bb => 4 }

%hash->map_each_value($value_subref) : %new_hash | %$new_hash

"$value_subref->($key, $value)" is called for each pair (with $_ set to the value).

The subref should return a single value for each key which will make up the %new_hash (with the same keys but with new mapped values).

Example

    { a => 1, b => 2 }->map_each_value(sub { $_ * 2 });
    # Returns { a => 2, b => 4 }

%hash->map_each_to_array($item_subref) : @new_array | @$new_array

"$item_subref->($key, $value)" is called for each pair (with $_ set to the value) in key order.

The subref should return zero or more list items which will make up the @new_array. Typically one item is returned.

Example

    { a => 1, b => 2 }->map_each_to_array(sub { "$_[0]-$_" });
    # Returns [ "a-1", "b-2" ]

%hash->filter_each($predicate = *is_true_subref*) : @hash | @$hash

$predicate can be a subref, string, undef, regex, or hashref. See "Filter predicates".

The default (no $predicate) is a subref which retains true values in the %hash.

If the $predicate is a subref, "$predicate->($key, $value)" is called for each pair (with $_ set to the value).

The subref should return a true value to retain the key-value pair in the result %hash.

Examples

    { a => 1, b => 2 }->filter_each(sub { $_ == 2 });
    # Returns { b => 2 }

    $book_author->filter_each(sub { $_->name =~ /Corey/ });

%hash->reject_each($predicate = *is_false_subref*) : @hash | @$hash

Examples:

    { a => 1, b => 2 }->reject_each(sub { $_ == 2 });
    # Returns { a => 1 }

The default (no $predicate) is a subref which filters out true values in the %hash.

%hash->to_ref() : $hashref

Useful for ensuring the last hash method return a reference while in scalar context. Typically:

    do_stuff(
        genre_count => $books->group_by_count("genre")->to_ref,
    );

%hash->to_hash() : %hash

%hash->to_array() : @array | @$array

Useful if you need to continue calling @array methods on it.

Raison d'etre

• It cuts down on dereferencing punctuation clutter, both by using methods on references and by using ->elements to deref arrayrefs.
• It makes map and grep transforms read in the same direction it's executed.
• It makes it easier to write those things in a natural order. No need to move the cursor around a lot just to fix dereferencing, order of operations etc.

On top of this, autobox::Transform provides a few higher level methods for mapping, filtering and sorting common cases which are easier to read and write.

Since they are at a slightly higher semantic level, once you know them they also provide a more specific meaning than just "map" or "grep".

(Compare the difference between seeing a "map" and seeing a "foreach" loop. Just seeing the word "map" hints at what type of thing is going on here: transforming a list into another list).

The methods of "autobox::Transform" are not suitable for all cases, but when used appropriately they will lead to much more clear, succinct and direct code, especially in conjunction with "autobox::Core".

Code Comparison

    ### map_by - method call: $books are Book objects
    my @genres = map { $_->genre() } @$books;
    my @genres = $books->map_by("genre");

    my $genres = [ map { $_->genre() } @$books ];
    my $genres = $books->map_by("genre");

    # With sum from autobox::Core / List::AllUtils
    my $book_order_total = sum(
        map { $_->price_with_tax($tax_pct) } @{$order->books}
    );
    my $book_order_total = $order->books
        ->map_by([ price_with_tax => $tax_pct ])->sum;

    ### map_by - hash key: $books are book hashrefs
    my @genres = map { $_->{genre} } @$books;
    my @genres = $books->map_by("genre");



    ### filter_by - method call: $books are Book objects
    my $sold_out_books = [ grep { $_->is_in_stock } @$books ];
    my $sold_out_books = $books->filter_by("is_in_stock");
    my $sold_out_books = $books->grep_by("is_in_stock");

    my $books_in_library = [ grep { $_->is_in_library($library) } @$books ];
    my $books_in_library = $books->filter_by([ is_in_library => $library ]);

    ### reject_by - hash key: $books are book hashrefs
    my $sold_out_books = [ grep { ! $_->{is_in_stock} } @$books ];
    my $sold_out_books = $books->reject_by("is_in_stock");



    ### uniq_by - method call: $books are Book objects
    my %seen; my $distinct_books = [ grep { ! %seen{ $_->id // "" }++ } @$books ];
    my $distinct_books = $books->uniq_by("id");

    ### uniq_by - hash key: $books are book hashrefs
    my %seen; my $distinct_books = [ grep { ! %seen{ $_->{id} // "" }++ } @$books ];
    my $distinct_books = $books->uniq_by("id");


    #### flat - $author->books returns an arrayref of Books
    my $author_books = [ map { @{$_->books} } @$authors ];
    my $author_books = $authors->map_by("books")->flat;

Author

Source code

Bug reports

<https://github.com/jplindstrom/p5-autobox-Transform/issues>.