INTRODUCTION: Inline.pm - Write Perl subroutines in other programming languages. Inline lets you write Perl subroutines in other programming languages like C, C++, Java, Python, Tcl and even Assembly. You don't need to compile anything. All the details are handled transparently so you can just run your Perl script like normal. Example: use Inline::Files; use Inline C; print JAxH('Inline'), "\n"; __C__ SV* JAxH(char* x) { return newSVpvf ("Just Another %s Hacker",x); } When run, this complete program prints: Just Another Inline Hacker The one line version is: perl -le 'use Inline C=>q{SV*JAxH(char*x){return newSVpvf("Just Another %s Hacker",x);}};print JAxH+Inline' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEATURES: Inline version 0.40 is a major upgrade. It includes: + Inline::MakeMaker + Rock solid support for writing CPAN extension modules + Short file names. + No more _Inline/lib/auto/Foo_C_3cee729d1d942c6792ca5a741dc21879/Foo_C_3cee729d1d942c6792ca5a741dc21879.so + Now it's _Inline/lib/auto/Foo/Foo.so + Support for creating binary distributions. + Can even do it without shipping C source code. + Support for Damian Conway's Inline::Files + No more __END__ markers. + Safe new config and caching format. + Similar to Data::Denter format + New Inline-FAQ.pod. Inline version 0.33 is a minor upgrade with the following changes: + Support for Inline::Struct and Inline::Filters + Added ENABLE and DISABLE configuration modifiers. + C installation is optional + Test harness reworked. Faster testing. + Fixed all reported (and some unreported) bugs. + Documentation enhancements. Inline version 0.32 is a minor upgrade with the following changes: + Addition of UNTAINT, SAFEMODE, GLOBAL_LOAD, MAKE, and LDDLFLAGS configuration options. + Fixed all reported (and some unreported) bugs. + Documentation enhancements. Inline version 0.31 is a minor upgrade with the following changes: + "use Inline C;" is now a synonym for "use Inline C => DATA;" + Default build/install directory changed from "blib_I/" to ".Inline/" + Build/Install directory structure simplified. + Short install paths. + Build areas in ".Inline/build/" subdirectory. + Added 'CC', 'CCFLAGS', 'LD', and 'LDFLAGS' config options to C. + More recipes in Cookbook. Inline version 0.30 is a major upgrade from previous verions. It includes: + Integrated support for typemap files in C. + All the recognized types now come *only* from typemaps. + The default types come from the default typemap installed with core Perl. + Typemaps are used to modify the Parse::RecDescent grammar for parsing C. + This means you can easily use your existing typemaps. + Language support completely separated from base Inline code. + Beta supoort for C (Inline::C, included) + Alpha support for C++ (Inline::CPP, available separately) + Alpha support for Python (Inline::Python, available separately) + Support for 'embedding' Perl in C with my new programming language, CPR. (Inline::CPR, available separately) This one may warp your mind :^) + Simple API for adding your own language support. + Write your own Inline::Foo + Write your own implementation of Inline::C, or just modify Inline::C::grammar. + Support for interpreted languages in addition to compiled ones. + Autodetection of new Inline language modules. + Much easier and more powerful configuration syntax. + More XS and MakeMaker features exposed for configuration (for C and C++). + Flexible new syntax for specifying source code. + Use DATA section for AutoLoader, Inline, and POD simultaneously. + Support for using Inline 'with' other modules. + "use Inline with 'Event';" lets Event.pm pass config info to Inline.pm. + Event.pm 0.80 has built in support for Inline.pm 0.30 and higher. + Write Event callbacks in C with extreme ease. + More documentation + perldoc Inline + perldoc Inline-FAQ + perldoc Inline-API + perldoc Inline::C + perldoc Inline::C-Cookbook + Better error messages and easier debugging. + Mailing list: inline@perl.org Other features of Inline.pm include: = Automatically compiles your source code and caches the shared object. = Automatically DynaLoads the shared object and binds it to Perl. = Recompiles only when the C code changes. = Changing the Perl code will not cause a recompile of the C code. = Support for writing extension modules, suitable for distributing to the CPAN. = Support for generating and binding Inline subs at run time. = Works on all Unix and MS Windows configurations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTALLATION: This module requires the Digest::MD5 and Parse::RecDescent modules. It also requires the appropriate C compiler. (Where appropriate means the one referred to in your Config.pm) To install Inline do this: perl Makefile.PL make make test make install On ActivePerl for MSWin32, use nmake instead of make. Or just use: ppm install Inline For convenience, Inline::C is packaged with Inline, and will be automatically installed as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION: = For more information on Inline, see 'perldoc Inline' and 'perldoc Inline-FAQ' = For information about Inline::, see 'perldoc Inline::C' and 'perldoc Inline::C-Cookbook' = For information on writing your own Inline extension see 'perldoc Inline-API' = For information about the Perl5 internal C API, see 'perldoc perlapi' or try http://www.perldoc.com/perl5.6/pod/perlapi.html = The Fall 2000 edition of The Perl Journal has an article about Inline The Inline.pm mailing list is inline@perl.org. Send email to inline-subscribe@perl.org to subscribe. Please send questions and comments to "Brian Ingerson" Copyright (c) 2001, Brian Ingerson. All Rights Reserved.