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{SVJAxH(charx){return newSVpvf("Just Another %s Hacker",x);}};print JAxH+Inline'

Inline version 0.44 is a semi-major release: + This version is intended to be backwards compatible with 0.43. + Fixed many bugs reported since 0.43
+ Sped up parsing of C with 'USING => ParseRegExp' + Added BUILD_NOISY and BUILD_TIMERS options + Use File::Spec for all path operations. First step in porting to all platforms.
+ Always call ILSM->validate()
+ Allow C++ modules to be written with Inline + New improved Inline::MakeMaker

Inline version 0.43 is a minor release:

+ Added XSMODE for using Inline directly with XS + Now works with all Perl release versions over 5.005 (5.005_02, etc) + Removed old deprecated funstionality
+ Works on Mac OS X
+ Added support for ILSMs who don't want to invoke a build + Added script's working directory to the #include path for C + Tighter integration between Inline::C and Inline::CPP + Bug fixes reported on the mailing list.

Inline version 0.42 is a minor release:

+ Applied a couple patches. Python and Tcl now install properly.

Inline version 0.41 is a minor release:

+ Added the AUTOWRAP feature for C

• Inline can now create wrappers from C function declarations alone. + Made Inline::MakeMaker work correctly in nested Makefile.PL trees. + Fixed bug preventing other Inline::* modules from installing in some cases. + Fixed platform dependent CRLF issues.

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/FooC3cee729d1d942c6792ca5a741dc21879/FooC3cee729d1d942c6792ca5a741dc21879.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 0.34 fixes 2 minor bugs:

+ Makefile.PL got confused on $Config::Config{cc} with full pathnames or flags + Makefile.PL/Makefile dependency caused a problem in one rare case.

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. <bind()>
• Works on all Unix and MS Windows configurations.

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.

• 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" <INGY@cpan.org>

Copyright (c) 2000-2002. Brian Ingerson. Copyright (c) 2008, 2010, 2011. Sisyphus.