X-Git-Url: http://git.vpit.fr/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=README;h=171a7ca2cfdc055fb271a679d72d6ecb4e74198f;hb=a809ca0a164c0534e02c8b07998331ffd73d0951;hp=61b60ab6ab683ee56d0b4a5499a4f00a6b9d5e75;hpb=22d6784192ac01ed37585b6eafb78b4c910a75df;p=perl%2Fmodules%2FVariable-Magic.git diff --git a/README b/README index 61b60ab..171a7ca 100644 --- a/README +++ b/README @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ NAME Variable::Magic - Associate user-defined magic to variables from Perl. VERSION - Version 0.22 + Version 0.31 SYNOPSIS use Variable::Magic qw/wizard cast dispell/; @@ -15,27 +15,51 @@ SYNOPSIS $a = 3 # (nothing) DESCRIPTION - Magic is Perl way of enhancing objects. This mechanism let the user add + Magic is Perl way of enhancing objects. This mechanism lets the user add extra data to any variable and hook syntaxical operations (such as - access, assignation or destruction) that can be applied to it. With this - module, you can add your own magic to any variable without the pain of - the C API. + access, assignment or destruction) that can be applied to it. With this + module, you can add your own magic to any variable without having to + write a single line of XS. - Magic differs from tieing and overloading in several ways : + You'll realize that these magic variables look a lot like tied + variables. It's not surprising, as tied variables are implemented as a + special kind of magic, just like any 'irregular' Perl variable : scalars + like $!, $( or $^W, the %ENV and %SIG hashes, the @ISA array, "vec()" + and "substr()" lvalues, thread::shared variables... They all share the + same underlying C API, and this module gives you direct access to it. - * Magic isn't copied on assignation (as for blessed references) : you - attach it to variables, not values. + Still, the magic made available by this module differs from tieing and + overloading in several ways : - * It doesn't replace the original semantics : magic callbacks trigger - before the original action take place, and can't prevent it to - happen. + * It isn't copied on assignment. - * It's mostly invisible at the Perl level : magical and non-magical - variables cannot be distinguished with "ref", "reftype" or another - trick. + You attach it to variables, not values (as for blessed references). - * It's notably faster, since perl's way of handling magic is lighter - by nature, and there's no need for any method resolution. + * It doesn't replace the original semantics. + + Magic callbacks trigger before the original action take place, and + can't prevent it to happen. This makes catching individual events + easier than with "tie", where you have to provide fallbacks methods + for all actions by usually inheriting from the correct "Tie::Std*" + class and overriding individual methods in your own class. + + * It's type-agnostic. + + The same magic can be applied on scalars, arrays, hashes, subs or + globs. But the same hook (see below for a list) may trigger + differently depending on the the type of the variable. + + * It's mostly invisible at the Perl level. + + Magical and non-magical variables cannot be distinguished with + "ref", "tied" or another trick. + + * It's notably faster. + + Mainly because perl's way of handling magic is lighter by nature, + and because there's no need for any method resolution. Also, since + you don't have to reimplement all the variable semantics, you only + pay for what you actually use. The operations that can be overloaded are : @@ -54,7 +78,7 @@ DESCRIPTION This magic is a little special : it is called when the 'size' or the 'length' of the variable has to be known by Perl. Typically, it's the magic involved when an array is evaluated in scalar context, but - also on array assignation and loops ("for", "map" or "grep"). The + also on array assignment and loops ("for", "map" or "grep"). The callback has then to return the length as an integer. * "clear" @@ -115,96 +139,23 @@ DESCRIPTION an unique numerical signature is attached to each kind of magic (i.e. each set of callbacks for magic operations). -PERL MAGIC HISTORY - The places where magic is invoked have changed a bit through perl - history. Here's a little list of the most recent ones. - - * 5.6.x - - *p14416* : 'copy' and 'dup' magic. - - * 5.9.3 - - *p25854* : 'len' magic is no longer called when pushing an element - into a magic array. - - *p26569* : 'local' magic. - - * 5.9.5 - - *p31064* : Meaningful 'uvar' magic. - - *p31473* : 'clear' magic wasn't invoked when undefining an array. - The bug is fixed as of this version. - - * 5.10.0 - - Since "PERL_MAGIC_uvar" is uppercased, "hv_magic_check()" triggers - 'copy' magic on hash stores for (non-tied) hashes that also have - 'uvar' magic. - - * 5.11.x - - *p32969* : 'len' magic is no longer invoked when calling "length" - with a magical scalar. - -CONSTANTS - "SIG_MIN" - The minimum integer used as a signature for user-defined magic. - - "SIG_MAX" - The maximum integer used as a signature for user-defined magic. - - "SIG_NBR" - SIG_NBR = SIG_MAX - SIG_MIN + 1 - - "MGf_COPY" - Evaluates to true iff the 'copy' magic is available. - - "MGf_DUP" - Evaluates to true iff the 'dup' magic is available. - - "MGf_LOCAL" - Evaluates to true iff the 'local' magic is available. - - "VMG_UVAR" - When this constant is true, you can use the "fetch,store,exists,delete" - callbacks on hashes. - - "VMG_COMPAT_ARRAY_PUSH_NOLEN" - True for perls that don't call 'len' magic when you push an element in a - magical array. - - "VMG_COMPAT_ARRAY_UNDEF_CLEAR" - True for perls that call 'clear' magic when undefining magical arrays. - - "VMG_COMPAT_SCALAR_LENGTH_NOLEN" - True for perls that don't call 'len' magic when taking the "length" of a - magical scalar. - - "VMG_PERL_PATCHLEVEL" - The perl patchlevel this module was built with, or 0 for non-debugging - perls. - - "VMG_THREADSAFE" - True iff this module could have been built with thread-safety features - enabled. - FUNCTIONS "wizard" - wizard sig => ..., - data => sub { ... }, - get => sub { my ($ref, $data) = @_; ... }, - set => sub { my ($ref, $data) = @_; ... }, - len => sub { my ($ref, $data, $len) = @_; ... ; return $newlen; }, - clear => sub { my ($ref, $data) = @_; ... }, - free => sub { my ($ref, $data) = @_, ... }, - copy => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key, $elt) = @_; ... }, - local => sub { my ($ref, $data) = @_; ... }, - fetch => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key) = @_; ... }, - store => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key) = @_; ... }, - exists => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key) = @_; ... }, - delete => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key) = @_; ... } + wizard sig => ..., + data => sub { ... }, + get => sub { my ($ref, $data [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + set => sub { my ($ref, $data [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + len => sub { my ($ref, $data, $len [, $op]) = @_; ... ; return $newlen; }, + clear => sub { my ($ref, $data [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + free => sub { my ($ref, $data [, $op]) = @_, ... }, + copy => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key, $elt [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + local => sub { my ($ref, $data [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + fetch => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + store => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + exists => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + delete => sub { my ($ref, $data, $key [, $op]) = @_; ... }, + copy_key => $bool, + op_info => [ 0 | VMG_OP_INFO_NAME | VMG_OP_INFO_OBJECT ] This function creates a 'wizard', an opaque type that holds the magic information. It takes a list of keys / values as argument, whose keys @@ -227,17 +178,48 @@ FUNCTIONS * "get", "set", "len", "clear", "free", "copy", "local", "fetch", "store", "exists" and "delete" - Code references to corresponding magic callbacks. You don't have to - specify all of them : the magic associated with undefined entries + Code references to the corresponding magic callbacks. You don't have + to specify all of them : the magic associated with undefined entries simply won't be hooked. In those callbacks, $_[0] is always a reference to the magic object and $_[1] is always the private data - (or "undef" when no private data constructor was supplied). In the - special case of "len" magic and when the variable is an array, $_[2] - contains its normal length. $_[2] is the current key in "copy", - "fetch", "store", "exists" and "delete" callbacks, although for - "copy" it may just be a copy of the actual key so it's useless to - (for example) cast magic on it. "copy" magic also receives the - current element (i.e. the value) in $_[3]. + (or "undef" when no private data constructor was supplied). + + Moreover, when you pass "op_info => $num" to "wizard", the last + element of @_ will be the current op name if "$num == + VMG_OP_INFO_NAME" and a "B::OP" object representing the current op + if "$num == VMG_OP_INFO_OBJECT". Both have a performance hit, but + just getting the name is lighter than getting the op object. + + Other arguments are specific to the magic hooked : + + * "len" + + When the variable is an array or a scalar, $_[2] contains + the non-magical length. The callback can return the new + scalar or array length to use, or "undef" to default to the + normal length. + + * "copy" + + $_[2] is a either a copy or an alias of the current key, + which means that it is useless to try to change or cast + magic on it. $_[3] is an alias to the current element (i.e. + the value). + + * "fetch", "store", "exists" and "delete" + + $_[2] is an alias to the current key. Nothing prevents you + from changing it, but be aware that there lurk dangerous + side effects. For example, it may righteously be readonly if + the key was a bareword. You can get a copy instead by + passing "copy_key => 1" to "wizard", which allows you to + safely assign to $_[2] in order to e.g. redirect the action + to another key. This however has a little performance + drawback because of the copy. + + All the callbacks are expected to return an integer, which is passed + straight to the perl magic API. However, only the return value of + the "len" callback currently holds a meaning. # A simple scalar tracer my $wiz = wizard get => sub { print STDERR "got ${$_[0]}\n" }, @@ -276,6 +258,18 @@ FUNCTIONS my $x; die 'error' unless cast $x, $wiz; + The "var" argument can be an array or hash value. Magic for those + behaves like for any other scalar, except that it is dispelled when the + entry is deleted from the container. For example, if you want to call + "POSIX::tzset" each time the 'TZ' environment variable is changed in + %ENV, you can use : + + use POSIX; + cast $ENV{TZ}, wizard set => sub { POSIX::tzset(); () }; + + If you want to overcome the possible deletion of the 'TZ' entry, you + have no choice but to rely on "store" uvar magic. + "getdata" getdata [$@%&*]var, [$wiz|$sig] @@ -299,18 +293,114 @@ FUNCTIONS # Dispell now. If $wiz isn't a signature, undef can't be returned. die 'no such magic or error' unless dispell $x, $wiz; +CONSTANTS + "SIG_MIN" + The minimum integer used as a signature for user-defined magic. + + "SIG_MAX" + The maximum integer used as a signature for user-defined magic. + + "SIG_NBR" + SIG_NBR = SIG_MAX - SIG_MIN + 1 + + "MGf_COPY" + Evaluates to true iff the 'copy' magic is available. + + "MGf_DUP" + Evaluates to true iff the 'dup' magic is available. + + "MGf_LOCAL" + Evaluates to true iff the 'local' magic is available. + + "VMG_UVAR" + When this constant is true, you can use the "fetch,store,exists,delete" + callbacks on hashes. + + "VMG_COMPAT_ARRAY_PUSH_NOLEN" + True for perls that don't call 'len' magic when you push an element in a + magical array. + + "VMG_COMPAT_ARRAY_UNSHIFT_NOLEN_VOID" + True for perls that don't call 'len' magic when you unshift in void + context an element in a magical array. + + "VMG_COMPAT_ARRAY_UNDEF_CLEAR" + True for perls that call 'clear' magic when undefining magical arrays. + + "VMG_COMPAT_SCALAR_LENGTH_NOLEN" + True for perls that don't call 'len' magic when taking the "length" of a + magical scalar. + + "VMG_PERL_PATCHLEVEL" + The perl patchlevel this module was built with, or 0 for non-debugging + perls. + + "VMG_THREADSAFE" + True iff this module could have been built with thread-safety features + enabled. + + "VMG_OP_INFO_NAME" + Value to pass with "op_info" to get the current op name in the magic + callbacks. + + "VMG_OP_INFO_OBJECT" + Value to pass with "op_info" to get a "B::OP" object representing the + current op in the magic callbacks. + +PERL MAGIC HISTORY + The places where magic is invoked have changed a bit through perl + history. Here's a little list of the most recent ones. + + * 5.6.x + + *p14416* : 'copy' and 'dup' magic. + + * 5.8.9 + + *p28160* : Integration of *p25854* (see below). + + *p32542* : Integration of *p31473* (see below). + + * 5.9.3 + + *p25854* : 'len' magic is no longer called when pushing an element + into a magic array. + + *p26569* : 'local' magic. + + * 5.9.5 + + *p31064* : Meaningful 'uvar' magic. + + *p31473* : 'clear' magic wasn't invoked when undefining an array. + The bug is fixed as of this version. + + * 5.10.0 + + Since "PERL_MAGIC_uvar" is uppercased, "hv_magic_check()" triggers + 'copy' magic on hash stores for (non-tied) hashes that also have + 'uvar' magic. + + * 5.11.x + + *p32969* : 'len' magic is no longer invoked when calling "length" + with a magical scalar. + + *p34908* : 'len' magic is no longer called when pushing / unshifting + an element into a magical array in void context. The "push" part was + already covered by *p25854*. + EXPORT The functions "wizard", "gensig", "getsig", "cast", "getdata" and "dispell" are only exported on request. All of them are exported by the tags ':funcs' and ':all'. - The constants "SIG_MIN", "SIG_MAX", "SIG_NBR", "MGf_COPY", "MGf_DUP", - "MGf_LOCAL" and "VMG_UVAR" are also only exported on request. They are - all exported by the tags ':consts' and ':all'. + All the constants are also only exported on request, either individually + or by the tags ':consts' and ':all'. CAVEATS If you store a magic object in the private data slot, the magic won't be - accessible by "getdata" since it's not copied by assignation. The only + accessible by "getdata" since it's not copied by assignment. The only way to address this would be to return a reference. If you define a wizard with a "free" callback and cast it on itself, @@ -318,7 +408,7 @@ CAVEATS first. DEPENDENCIES - perl 5.7.3. + perl 5.8. Carp (standard since perl 5), XSLoader (standard since perl 5.006). @@ -340,8 +430,7 @@ SEE ALSO AUTHOR Vincent Pit, "", . - You can contact me by mail or on #perl @ FreeNode (vincent or - Prof_Vince). + You can contact me by mail or on "irc.perl.org" (vincent). BUGS Please report any bugs or feature requests to "bug-variable-magic at @@ -359,7 +448,7 @@ SUPPORT . COPYRIGHT & LICENSE - Copyright 2007-2008 Vincent Pit, all rights reserved. + Copyright 2007-2009 Vincent Pit, all rights reserved. This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.