Apache2::SafePnotes - a safer replacement for Apache2::RequestUtil::pnotes

  use Apache2::SafePnotes;
  use Apache2::SafePnotes qw/pnotes/;
  use Apache2::SafePnotes qw/whatever/;

This module cures a problem with Apache2::RequestRec::pnotes andApache2::Connection::pnotes (available since mod_perl 2.0.3). These functions store perl variables making them accessible from various phases of the Apache request cycle.

According to the docs there are 2 ways to store data as a pnote:

  $r->pnotes( key=>"value" );

and

  $r->pnotes->{key}="value";

Unfortunately, these 2 versions work slightly different. Assuming the following code

  my $v=1;
  $r->pnotes( 'v'=>$v );
  $v++;
  my $x=$r->pnotes('v');

I'd expect $x to be 1 but it turns out to be 2. Further on, also this code snippet leads to unexpected results:

  my $v=1;
  $r->pnotes( 'v'=>$v );
  $r->pnotes->{v}++;
  my $x=$v;

Surprise, $x is 2 as well.

The problem lies in $r->pnotes( 'v'=>$v ). With $r->pnotes->{v}=$v all works as expected ($x==1).

With Apache2::SafePnotes the problem goes away and $x will be 1 in both cases.

This module must be use'd not require'd. It does it's work in an import function.

use Apache2::SafePnotes

creates the function Apache::RequestRec::safe_pnotes as a replacement for pnotes. The old pnotes function is preserved just in case some code relies on the odd behavior.

use Apache2::SafePnotes qw/NAME/

creates the function Apache::RequestRec::NAME as a replacement for pnotes. If pnotes is passed as NAME the original pnotes function is replaced by the safer one.

modperl2, Apache2::RequestUtil, Apache2::Connection

Torsten Foertsch, <torsten.foertsch@gmx.net>

Copyright (C) 2006 by Torsten Foertsch

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