version::Limit - Perl extension for fine control of permitted versions

  use version::Limit;
  version::Limit::Scope(
    "[0.0.0,1.0.0)" => "constructor syntax has changed",
    "[2.2.4,2.3.1)" => "frobniz method croaks without second argument",
  );

In a mature, highly structured development environment, it is sometimes desireable to exert a more fine-grained versioning model than that permitted by the default behavior. With the standard Perl version model, it is only possible to establish a maximum version (the most recent) for a given module. However, this precludes changing the provided interface, or specifically excluding certain versions (because of bugs). Using this module makes both of those things possible.

In addition, starting with Perl 5.8.1, the support for v-string's was improved, but it is still difficult to use them for module versions. The version compatibility module includes code that is proposed for Perl 5.10.0, which will provide fully object oriented version objects. However, unless your module itself requires Perl 5.8.1 or better, callers of your module are still limited in how they can express the requested version on the use line. See Limitations for more details.

For example, if a module changes in a incompatible way at version 1.0.0, then the following line will prevent any program from calling that module and requesting any version from 0.0.0 to 1.0.0:

  version::Limit::Scope(
      "[0.0.0,1.0.0)" => "constructor syntax has changed"
  );

The first term (the range) is coded using standard set notation. The above translates to:

  greater than or equal to 0.0.0 and less than 1.0.0

Note that both terminal characters are independent, so "(0.0.0,1.0.0]" is also a permitted range.

A module can also have holes in the permitted version values, for example to account for a bug which was introduced in one version and fixed in a later one. For example:

  version::Limit::Scope(
    "[2.2.4,2.3.1)" => "frobniz method croaks without second argument"
  );

would signify that starting in version 2.2.4, there was a problem which wasn't fixed until 2.3.1.

A module can have as many or as few exclusions defined. They can be initialized either individually or all at once. The ranges must be unique and exclusive, i.e. not overlap (although there is currently no code that enforces that limitation).

If consumers of your module/library don't explicitly request a version on the use line, they will not receive any warning, no matter what limitations have been configured. If you use this module to provide API guarantees for your module, you are strongly encouraged to document this in your own module.

Because of varying support for v-strings in Perl starting with 5.6.0 through 5.8.1, certain behavior of this module depends on precisely which Perl release you are using. This limitation is for modules which use your module, and relates to how the requested version can be expressed in the source code.

Perl 5.005_03

No support for v-strings at all, so all modules must use strictly numeric version numbers, see version for details. This includes the use line, which must use a bare floating point number, e.g.

  use module 1.002003; #not the equivalent 1.2.3

Perl 5.6.x through 5.8.0 (inclusive)

Some support for v-strings, but you are strongly encouraged to recommend only numeric version strings be used, as in the above case.

Perl 5.8.1 and newer

Full support for "magic" v-strings, which can be used anywhere that a numeric version can be used (all of the following are equivalent):

  use module 1.002003; # numeric version
  use module 1.2.3;    # extended version
  use module v1.2.3;   # canonical extended version

Nevertheless, unless your module/library only supports Perl 5.8.1 or later, you are strongly encouraged to recommend only numeric version strings, for maximum compatibility.

None by default.

version

John Peacock, <jpeacock@cpan.org>

Copyright (C) 2004-2006 by John Peacock

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself, either Perl version 5.8.3 or, at your option, any later version of Perl 5 you may have available.