# $Id: Default.pm,v 1.3 2000/09/13 21:57:07 nwiger Exp $ #################################################################### # # Copyright (c) 2000, Nathan Wiger # # IO::Default - Replace select() and default filehandle with $DEFOUT # Also add $DEFIN and $DEFERR variables # #################################################################### require 5.005; package IO::Default; use strict; no strict 'refs'; use vars qw(@EXPORT @ISA $VERSION $DEFOUT $DEFERR $DEFIN); $VERSION = do { my @r=(q$Revision: 1.3 $=~/\d+/g); sprintf "%d."."%02d"x$#r,@r }; use Exporter; @ISA = qw(Exporter); @EXPORT = qw($DEFOUT $DEFERR $DEFIN); use Carp; # This works via tie(), "plain and simple", but with a couple special # subclasses since each variable is tied differently. On assignment, # basically we just do some select or open calls to twiddle what # we're working with. The $DEFIN handle is more complicated because # it tries to override what is done with <> and . tie $DEFOUT, 'IO::Default::DEFOUT'; tie $DEFERR, 'IO::Default::DEFERR'; tie $DEFIN, 'IO::Default::DEFIN'; # Stolen from CGI.pm - thanks Lincoln! # Man, will I be glad when these become scalars in Perl 6... sub _to_filehandle { my $thingy = shift; return undef unless $thingy; return $thingy if UNIVERSAL::isa($thingy,'GLOB'); return $thingy if UNIVERSAL::isa($thingy,'FileHandle'); if (!ref($thingy)) { my $caller = 1; while (my $package = caller($caller++)) { my($tmp) = $thingy =~ /[\':]/ ? $thingy : "$package\:\:$thingy"; return $tmp if defined(fileno($tmp)); } } return undef; } # For $DEFOUT, we just call select() on STORE/FETCH package IO::Default::DEFOUT; use Carp; sub TIESCALAR { my $c = shift; bless { DEFOUT => (select) }, $c; } sub STORE { my $c = shift; my $h = IO::Default::_to_filehandle(shift); return $h if ($c->{DEFOUT} and $h eq $c->{DEFOUT}); # duplicate, skip select $h or carp "Assignment to \$DEFOUT failed: $!"; return $c->{DEFOUT} = $h; } sub FETCH { my $c = shift; return $c->{DEFOUT} = select; } # For $DEFERR, we just reopen STDERR package IO::Default::DEFERR; use Carp; sub TIESCALAR { my $c = shift; bless { DEFERR => "STDERR" }, $c; } sub STORE { my $c = shift; my $h = IO::Default::_to_filehandle(shift); return $h if $h eq $c->{DEFERR}; # duplicate, skip if ( ref $h ) { *STDERR = *$h; # use typeglob aliases } else { open(STDERR, ">&$h") or carp "Assignment to \$DEFERR failed: $!"; } $c->{DEFERR} = $h; } sub FETCH { shift->{DEFERR}; } # For $DEFIN, we just copy whatever's been passed in package IO::Default::DEFIN; use Carp; sub TIESCALAR { my $c = shift; bless { DEFIN => undef }, $c; } sub STORE { my $c = shift; my $h = IO::Default::_to_filehandle(shift); return $h if ($c->{DEFERR} and $h eq $c->{DEFERR}); # duplicate, skip # This may seem mean, but the whole purpose of this module # is to change the meaning of <> to not iterate over # command-line files. As such, we need to blow away any # @ARGV that's hanging around still because of ARGV's # inherent special-ness. undef @ARGV; if ( ref $h ) { *ARGV = *$h; # use typeglob aliases } else { open(ARGV, "<&$h") or carp "Assignment to \$DEFIN failed: $!"; } $c->{DEFIN} = $h; } sub FETCH { my $c = shift; my $h = IO::Default::_to_filehandle(shift); return $h if $h eq $c->{DEFIN}; # duplicate, skip # If we haven't set $DEFIN yet, but we're trying to # read from it explicitly, then basically do what STORE # does and reopen ARGV "correctly". $c->STORE($h); } 1; __END__ =head1 NAME IO::Default - replace select() with $DEFOUT, $DEFERR, $DEFIN =head1 SYNOPSIS use IO::Default; open LOG, ">/var/log/my.log"; $DEFOUT = LOG; # instead of select(LOG); open $DEFERR, ">/var/log/my.err"; warn "Badness!"; # sends to $DEFERR $DEFIN = \*STDIN; # barewords or globs work @data = <>; # reads from $DEFIN now use FileHandle; # provide OO file methods $DEFOUT = \*MYFILE; # need to use globs if want OO $DEFOUT->autoflush(1); # set $| on whatever $DEFOUT is $DEFERR->autoflush(1); # ditto $DEFIN->untaint; # untaint default input stream =head1 DESCRIPTION Currently, Perl provides a somewhat clumsy way of manipulating the default filehandle, and no easy way of manipulating default error and input handles. This module serves the dual purpose of providing a means around this, as well as serving as a prototype for a proposed Perl 6 feature. This module replaces the use of select() and the default filehandle with three variables, $DEFOUT, $DEFERR, and $DEFIN, that are the default output, input, and error filehandles. By default, they point to STDOUT, STDERR, and nothing, respectively. The reason $DEFIN doesn't do anything until you assign to it is because assigning to it wipes out @ARGV. See the BUGS below. To change what the default filehandle is for output, simply assign a filehandle or filehandle glob to $DEFOUT: open LOG, ">/var/log/my.log" or die; $DEFOUT = LOG; # bare filehandles ok print "Here's some data"; # goes to LOG The same can be easily done with $DEFERR for default errors: open ERR, ">/var/log/my.err" or die; $DEFERR = \*ERR unless $have_a_tty; # glob refs ok too warn "Danger, Will Robinson!"; # goes to ERR Finally, this module changes the semantics of <> if you assign to $DEFIN. Normally, the <> ARGV filehandle will iterate through command line arguments. This is still the default. However, if you explicitly assign a filehandle to $DEFIN, then this changes the semantics and input is instead read from the handle: open MOTD, "); # just reads /etc/motd Why do this? Well, passing filehandles in and out of functions is a pain in Perl 5, requiring you to use globs. If you simply want to change the default input for a sub function somewhere, have it read from <>: sub get_data { my @data = <>; # do more stuff return @data; } Then from the top level do something like this: # Figure out our input stream $DEFIN = get_handle || \*STDIN; @data = get_data; And now you don't have to pass filehandles in and out of functions anymore just for dealing with default input and output. Note that here <> and <$DEFIN> are synonymous. =head1 BUGS This module should NOT be used in production code because it is considered unstable and subject to change. Unfortunately, getting $DEFIN to work in Perl 5 is hairy, since ARGV is so special. As such, assigning to $DEFIN will wipe out whatever you have in @ARGV at the time. It also can't set $ARGV, since the file that was opened is unknown. Luckily, if you never assign or access $DEFIN, then <> retains its magic powers, so if you don't like this simply don't use $DEFIN. This module really just does some trickery to reopen the STD filehandles and point them to different places. As such, mixing print calls to $DEFERR and STDERR will send the output to the same place (contrary to the Perl 6 proposal). =head1 REFERENCES For complete details on the Perl 6 proposal, please visit http://dev.perl.org/rfc/129.html. Comments are welcome. =head1 AUTHOR Copyright (c) 2000, Nathan Wiger . All Rights Reserved. This module is free software; you may copy this under the terms of the GNU General Public License, or the Artistic License, copies of which should have accompanied your Perl kit. =cut