[vienna.pm] [ANNOUNCE] Exporter::Simple 0.12
Marcel Grunauer
marcel at codewerk.com
Tue Jul 3 06:12:06 CDT 2001
* * * vienna-pm-list * * *
NAME
Exporter::Simple - Easier set-up of module exports
SYNOPSIS
package MyExport;
use Exporter::Simple;
my @bar : Exportable(vars) = (2, 3, 5, 7);
my $foo : Exported(vars) = 42;
my %baz : Exported = (a => 65, b => 66);
sub hello : Exported(greet,uk) { "hello there" }
sub askme : Exportable { "what you will" }
sub hi : Exportable(greet,us) { "hi there" }
# meanwhile, in a module far, far away
use MyExport qw(:greet);
print hello();
$baz{c} = 67;
DESCRIPTION
This module, when used by a package, allows that package to define
exports in a more concise way than using `Exporter'. Instead of having
to worry what goes in `@EXPORT', `@EXPORT_OK' and `%EXPORT_TAGS', you
can use two attributes to define exporter behavior. This has two
advantages: It frees you from the implementation details of `Exporter',
and it keeps the export definitions where they belong, with the
subroutines and variables.
The attributes provided by this module are:
`Exported'
Indicates that the associated subroutine or lexical variable should
be automatically exported. It will also go into the `:all' tag (per
the rules of `%EXPORT_TAGS'), as well as any tags you specify as
options of this attribute.
For example, the following declaration
sub hello : Exported(greet,uk) { ... }
will cause `hello()' to be exported, but also be available in the
tags `:all', `:greet' and `:uk'.
`Exportable'
Is like `Exported', except that the associated subroutine or lexical
variable won't be automatically exported. It will still go to the
`:all' tag in any case and all other tags specified as attribute
options.
Exporting Lexical Variables
`Exporter::Simple' allows you to export lexical variables; something
`Exporter' can't do. What happens is that the lexical is aliased to a
global of the same name, which is then exported. So when you manipulate
that global, you're really manipulating the lexical.
The syntax for exporting lexical variables is the same as for
subroutines as lexicals can take attributes just as subroutines do.
`Exporter::Simple' expects some cooperation from you when exporting
lexicals. For reasons best explained by reading the (commented) source,
you need to make sure to have
1;
as the last line of code in your module. This is the true value you have
to return from the module anyway.
Exporting Global Variables
Global variables can't take attributes as of Perl 5.6.0, so it's
necessary to export globals manually. This needs to happen during
`BEGIN()' though, so you need to write code like this:
BEGIN {
export([ qw/EXPORTED_CONST @array $friend/ ], 'globals');
exportable('EXPORTABLE_CONST', 'globals');
}
Urgh.
However, globals will be able to take attributes in Perl 5.8.0, and this
module will then be updated to reflect those capabilities.
The two subroutines used to export globals are:
`export($symbols, $tags)'
As shown in the example above, both arguments can be either strings
(to indicate one symbol or tag) or array references to indicate
multiple symbols or tags.
The semantics are the same as for the `Export' attribute above.
`exportable($symbols, $tags)'
As `export()', but does not automatically export the symbols. The
semantics are the same as for the `Exportable' attribute above.
These two subroutines are automatically exported by `Exporter::Simple'.
The reason for this brute-force export is that these subroutines need to
be used during BEGIN, but `Exporter::Simple' doesn't have a chance to
use `Exporter' to export those two subroutines yet. Sigh.
TODO
reflection
Retrieve information about exports
test using two exporting modules
To see whether `Exporter::Simple' is ok with more than one module
using it. (I don't know why it shouldn't be, but that's what testing
is for).
BUGS
If you find any bugs or oddities, please do inform the author.
AUTHOR
Marcel Grunauer, <marcel at codewerk.com>
CONTRIBUTORS
Damian Conway <damian at conway.org>
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2001 Marcel Grunauer. All rights reserved.
This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
under the same terms as Perl itself.
SEE ALSO
perl(1), Attribute::Handlers(3pm), Exporter(3pm).
Marcel
--
We are Perl. Your table will be assimilated. Your waiter will adapt to
service us. Surrender your beer. Resistance is futile.
-- London.pm strategy aka "embrace and extend" aka "mark and sweep"
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