From @Tux

Why is the ; required at EOF?

$ perl -lE'say $/'

$ perl -lE'say $\'

$ perl6 -e 'say $/'
Nil
$ perl6 -e 'say $\'
===SORRY!=== Error while compiling -e
Missing semicolon.
at -e​:1
------> say $\⏏<EOL>
$ perl6 -e 'say $\;'
===SORRY!=== Error while compiling -e
Unsupported use of $\ variable; in Perl 6 please use the filehandle's .nl attribute
at -e​:1
------> say $\⏏;

--
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using perl5.00307 .. 5.21 porting perl5 on HP-UX, AIX, and openSUSE
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From @smls

Why is the ; required at EOF?

It isn't, the parser just got confused because $\ is not valid syntax.

In fact that's what the error message says now​:

  ➜ perl6 -e 'say $\'
  ===SORRY!=== Error while compiling -e
  Confused
  at -e​:1
  ------> say $\⏏<EOL>
  expecting any of​:
  postfix

Ticket can be closed once a test is added.

The RT System itself - Status changed from 'new' to 'open'

From @AlexDaniel

On Sat May 21 08​:48​:35 2016, smls75@​gmail.com wrote​:

Why is the ; required at EOF?

It isn't, the parser just got confused because $\ is not valid syntax.

In fact that's what the error message says now​:

➜  perl6 \-e 'say $\\'
===SORRY\!=== Error while compiling \-e
Confused
at \-e​:1
\-\-\-\-\-\-> say $\\⏏\<EOL>
    expecting any of&#8203;:
        postfix

Ticket can be closed once a test is added.

Perhaps we should promote it to LTA error message?

“Confused” is definitely not very helpful, that's why we have this bug report. A better error message could go like “Confused after encountering unspace” or something.

From @smls

"Confused" together with an arrow pointing to the exact location, is reasonably helpful IMO.

At the time the issue was reported, it said "Missing semicolon" which was a weird message to print, and that has been fixed.

But you're right, it could be better. "After encountering unspace" may not be quite accurate though...

From @zoffixznet

Tests added​: Raku/roast@4710138e25

@zoffixznet - Status changed from 'open' to 'resolved'