Slurp - Slurp entire files into variables

 use Slurp;

 my $file = slurp($file1, $file2, ...);

 my @array = Slurp::to_array($filename);
 my $scalar = Slurp::to_scalar($filename);

This simple module serves one purpose - to provide a simple means to read (or slurp) an entire file into memory for processing. This module allows the replacement of the prototypical foreach- or while- loops used for opening and reading of files with single-line constructs.

Of note with this module is that the magic of the @ARGV variable and the input record separator, $/, are used to facilitate the reading of entire files into either an array or scalar using minimal code.

The following methods are available through this module for use in other applications. By default, the slurp method is exported into the calling namespace - The other methods of this module, to_array and to_scalar, may also be exported into the calling namespace.

slurp

 my @array = slurp($filename, ...);
 my $scalar = slurp($filename, ...);

This method slurps one or more files, specified by filenames passed to this method as arguments, into memory. The assignment can be made either either an array or scalar depending upon the context in which this method was called.

to_array

 my @array = Slurp::to_array($filename, ...);
 my $array_ref = Slurp::to_array($filename, ...);

This method slurps one or more files, specified by filenames passed to this method as arguments, into memory. If called in a scalar context, this method returns an array reference - This is particularly useful if dealing with large files.

to_scalar

 my $scalar = Slurp::to_scalar($filename, ...);

This method slurps one or more files, specified by filenames passed to this method as arguments, into a scalar variable.

File::Slurp

0.4

Rob Casey