The < > has term precedence. Here's the example from the docs:
say <a b c>[1];
I figured the same precedence would apply to all of the quoting operators. This works:
my $string = '5+8i';
my $number = <<$string>>;
say $number;
This interpolates $string and creates allomorphes (in this case a ComplexStr):
(5+8i)
But, if I try to index it like the example from the docs, it doesn't compile:
my $string = '5+8i';
my $number = <<$string>>[0];
say $number;
I'm not quite sure what Perl 6 thinks is happening here. Perhaps it's thinking it's a hyperoperator:
===SORRY!=== Error while compiling ...
Cannot use variable $number in declaration to initialize itself
at /Users/brian/Desktop/scratch.pl:6
------> say $⏏number;
expecting any of:
statement end
statement modifier
statement modifier loop
term
I can skip the variable:
my $string = '5+8i';
say <<$string>>[0];
But that's a different error that can't find the closing quotes:
===SORRY!=== Error while compiling ...
Unable to parse expression in shell-quote words; couldn't find final '>>'
at /Users/brian/Desktop/scratch.pl:8
------> <BOL>⏏<EOL>
expecting any of:
statement end
statement modifier
statement modifier loop