The software enables users to locate shared files at both per-dist and per-module levels, allowing for easy organization and management of files.
File::ShareDir is a Perl module that can provide a convenient solution to the common problem of accessing read-only data stored on the file system at runtime. It acts as a companion to the Class::Inspector and File::HomeDir modules, making the process more accessible to the wider Perl community. This is especially useful for those who want or need their Perl module to access a large amount of data that is stored on the file system during runtime.
By default, on a linux-like system, this data would be located in a directory such as /usr/share. However, since Perl runs on many different systems, using any one location is unreliable. Perl provides a way to access this data, but it is not well-known, and as a result, many module authors have to come up with inefficient ways to make the data available to their code.
One common method is to create enormous multi-megabyte .pm files that store the data in a Perl data structure, needlessly chewing up memory. Another method involves accessing the data through a filehandle after the __DATA__ compiler tag. However, these approaches can be complicated and inefficient.
File::ShareDir offers a simple solution: write the data files to the system at install time, then know where to find them at runtime. The module takes advantage of Perl's install system to create an "auto" directory for every distribution and module file. These directories can be used to store any type of data, and File::ShareDir provides a number of useful functions for locating shared data files.
For instance, users can call the dist_dir and module_dir functions to locate the directories where distribution-level and module-level shared data files are kept, respectively. There are also functions like dist_file and module_file for finding specific files in these directories. Finally, the class_file function searches up the inheritance tree to locate a file.
Overall, File::ShareDir is a powerful and elegant solution to the common problem of accessing read-only data stored on the file system at runtime. Its straightforward approach makes it a valuable tool for developers of all skill levels, and its companion modules offer even more advanced functionality.
By default, on a linux-like system, this data would be located in a directory such as /usr/share. However, since Perl runs on many different systems, using any one location is unreliable. Perl provides a way to access this data, but it is not well-known, and as a result, many module authors have to come up with inefficient ways to make the data available to their code.
One common method is to create enormous multi-megabyte .pm files that store the data in a Perl data structure, needlessly chewing up memory. Another method involves accessing the data through a filehandle after the __DATA__ compiler tag. However, these approaches can be complicated and inefficient.
File::ShareDir offers a simple solution: write the data files to the system at install time, then know where to find them at runtime. The module takes advantage of Perl's install system to create an "auto" directory for every distribution and module file. These directories can be used to store any type of data, and File::ShareDir provides a number of useful functions for locating shared data files.
For instance, users can call the dist_dir and module_dir functions to locate the directories where distribution-level and module-level shared data files are kept, respectively. There are also functions like dist_file and module_file for finding specific files in these directories. Finally, the class_file function searches up the inheritance tree to locate a file.
Overall, File::ShareDir is a powerful and elegant solution to the common problem of accessing read-only data stored on the file system at runtime. Its straightforward approach makes it a valuable tool for developers of all skill levels, and its companion modules offer even more advanced functionality.
What's New
Version 1.00: N/A