NAME

Algorithm::BestChoice - Choose the best

VERSION

Version 0.01

SYNOPSIS 

        # Find my favorite food based on color
        my $chooser = Algorithm::BestChoice->new;
        $chooser->add( match => red, value => cherry, rank => 1 ) 
        $chooser->add( match => red, value => apple, rank => 10 ) # Like apples
        $chooser->add( match => red, value => strawberry, rank => -5 ) # Don't like strawberries
        $chooser->add( match => purple, value => grape, rank => 20 ) # Delicious
        $chooser->add( match => yellow, value => banana )
        $chooser->add( match => yellow, value => lemon rank => -5 ) # Too sour

        my $favorite;
        $favorite = $chooser->best( red ) # apple is the favorite red
        $favorite = $chooser->best( [ red, yellow, purple ] ) # grape is the favorite among red, yellow, and purple

DESCRIPTION

An Algorithm::BestChoice object is similar to a hash, except it returns a result based on a given key AND relative ranking. That is, you can associate multiple values with a single key, and differentiate them by using a rank (or weight).

METHODS
Algorithm::BestChoice->new
Create and return a new Algorithm::BestChoice object

$chooser->add( ... )
Add a possible choice to the chooser

The arguments are: 

        match       The key for the choice, can be a string or a regular expression
        value       The value to associate with the key (what is returned by ->best)
        rank        An optional numeric weight, the default is 0 (>0 is better, <0 is worse)

$value = $chooser->best( <criterion> ) Given criterion, ->best will return the value that 1. has a matching matcher and 2. has the highest rank

AUTHOR

Robert Krimen, "<rkrimen at cpan.org>"

BUGS

Please report any bugs or feature requests to "bug-algorithm-bestchoice at rt.cpan.org", or through the web interface at <http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/ReportBug.html?Queue=Algorithm-BestChoice>. I will be notified, and then you'll automatically be notified of progress on your bug as I make changes.

SUPPORT

You can find documentation for this module with the perldoc command.

perldoc Algorithm::BestChoice

You can also look for information at:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
COPYRIGHT & LICENSE

Copyright 2009 Robert Krimen, all rights reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.