This is the README file for "Alias", the Perl module that performs aliasing services.

This is Version 2.32.

Perl Version 5.003 or later is required, and you need to be on a system supported by MakeMaker (which comes with perl) and a C compiler.

You may find this module useful if you:

• are tired of dereferencing hash-based object attributes
• wish perl could make-do with fewer $, -> and {} things
• are a little scared of using typeglobs
• want the freedom to put what you want, when you want in the symbol table without having to deal with wierd syntax
• need to use scalar constants in your program since you don't trust yourself from changing $PI

Most notably, there is an C<attr> function that installs a whole hash on the symbol table with implicit localization. This allows you to access object attributes without having to deref the object everytime, as in most other OO languages.

The other functions are just convenient wrappers for "obscure" perl functionality.

The C<attr> functionality may belong in the perl core, but I am making it available as part of this module for folks to see what it "feels like" to have it first.

It would be interesting to benchmark how much less/more efficient C<attr> is when compared to regular hash access of object attributes under various degrees of use.

Comments are always very welcome.

• Sarathy. gsar@umich.edu

Installation is via the standard mantra. The distribution assumes you have dynamic linking available. Type

      perl Makefile.PL
      make
      make test

If the tests pass, you can type

make install

to install the module.

Look for newer versions of this module on CPAN. The master site for CPAN currently is:

ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/languages/perl/CPAN

There may be many others closer to your location.