Perl6::Export(3)

NAME
Perl6::Export - Implements the Perl 6 'is export(...)' trait

SYNOPSIS
    # Perl 5 code...

    package Some::Module;
    use Perl6::Export;

    # Export &foo by default, when explicitly requested,
    # or when the ':ALL' export set is requested...

    sub foo is export(:DEFAULT) {
        print "phooo!";
    }

    # Export &bar by default, when explicitly requested,
    # or when the ':bees', ':pubs', or ':ALL' export set is requested...
    # the parens after 'is export' are like the parens of a qw(...)

    sub bar is export(:DEFAULT :bees :pubs) {
        print "baaa!";
    }

    # Export &baz when explicitly requested
    # or when the ':bees' or ':ALL' export set is requested...

    sub baz is export(:bees) {
        print "baassss!";
    }

    # Always export &qux
    # (no matter what else is explicitly or implicitly requested)

    sub qux is export(:MANDATORY) {
        print "quuuuuuuuux!";
    }

    IMPORT {
        # This block is called when the module is used (as usual),
        # but it is called after any export requests have been handled.
        # Those requests will have been stripped from its @_ argument list
    }

DESCRIPTION
Implements what I hope the Perl 6 symbol export mechanism might look like.

It's very straightforward:

•   If you want a subroutine to be capable of being exported (when explicitly requested in the "use" arguments), you mark it with the "is export" trait.

•   If you want a subroutine to be automatically exported when the module is used (without specific overriding arguments), you mark it with the "is export(:DEFAULT)" trait.

•   If you want a subroutine to be automatically exported when the module is used (even if the user specifies overriding arguments), you mark it with the "is export(:MANDATORY)" trait.

•   If the subroutine should also be exported when particular export groups are requested, you add the names of those export groups to the trait's argument list.

That's it.

  "IMPORT" blocks
Perl 6 replaces the "import" subroutine with an "IMPORT" block. It's analogous to a "BEGIN" or "END" block, except that it's executed every time the corresponding module is "use"'d.

Perl6::Export honours either the Perl5-ish:

    sub import {...}

or the equivalent Perl6-ish:

    IMPORT {...}

In either case the subroutine/block is passed the argument list that was specified on the "use" line that loaded the corresponding module. However, any export specifications (names of subroutines or tagsets to be exported) will have already been removed from that argument list before "import"/"IMPORT" receives it.

WARNING
The syntax and semantics of Perl 6 is still being finalized and consequently is at any time subject to change. That means the same caveat applies to this module.

DEPENDENCIES
Requires Filter::Simple

AUTHOR
Damian Conway (damian@conway.org)

BUGS AND IRRITATIONS
Does not yet handle the export of variables. The author personally believes this is a feature, rather than a bug.

Comments, suggestions, and patches welcome.

COPYRIGHT
 Copyright (c) 2003, Damian Conway. All Rights Reserved.
 This module is free software. It may be used, redistributed
    and/or modified under the same terms as Perl itself.