Provided by: libdevel-callparser-perl_0.002-4build1_amd64 bug

NAME

       Devel::CallParser - custom parsing attached to subroutines

SYNOPSIS

               # to generate header prior to XS compilation

               perl -MDevel::CallParser=callparser0_h \
                       -e 'print callparser0_h' > callparser0.h
               perl -MDevel::CallParser=callparser1_h \
                       -e 'print callparser1_h' > callparser1.h

               # in Perl part of module

               use Devel::CallParser;

               /* in XS */

               #include "callparser0.h"

               cv_get_call_parser(cv, &psfun, &psobj);
               static OP *my_psfun(pTHX_ GV *namegv, SV *psobj, U32 *flagsp);
               cv_set_call_parser(cv, my_psfun, psobj);

               #include "callparser1.h"

               cv_get_call_parser(cv, &psfun, &psobj);
               static OP *my_psfun(pTHX_ GV *namegv, SV *psobj, U32 *flagsp);
               cv_set_call_parser(cv, my_psfun, psobj);

               args = parse_args_parenthesised(&flags);
               args = parse_args_nullary(&flags);
               args = parse_args_unary(&flags);
               args = parse_args_list(&flags);
               args = parse_args_block_list(&flags);
               args = parse_args_proto(namegv, protosv, &flags);
               args = parse_args_proto_or_list(namegv, protosv, &flags);

DESCRIPTION

       This module provides a C API, for XS modules, concerned with custom parsing.  It is
       centred around the function "cv_set_call_parser", which allows XS code to attach a magical
       annotation to a Perl subroutine, resulting in resolvable calls to that subroutine having
       their arguments parsed by arbitrary C code.  (This is a more conveniently structured
       facility than the core's "PL_keyword_plugin" API.)  This module makes "cv_set_call_parser"
       and several supporting functions available.

       This module provides the implementation of the functions at runtime.  It also, at compile
       time, supplies the C header file and link library which provide access to the functions.
       In normal use, "callparser0_h"/"callparser1_h" and "callparser_linkable" should be called
       at build time (not authoring time) for the module that wishes to use the C functions.

CONSTANTS

       callparser0_h
           Content of a C header file, intended to be named ""callparser0.h"".  It is to be
           included in XS code, and "perl.h" must be included first.  When the XS module is
           loaded at runtime, the "Devel::CallParser" module must be loaded first.  This will
           result in a limited form of the C functions "cv_get_call_parser" and
           "cv_set_call_parser" being available to the XS code.

           The "cv_get_call_parser" and "cv_set_call_parser" functions supplied by this header
           are mostly as described below.  However, for subroutines that have default argument
           parsing behaviour, "cv_get_call_parser" will return null pointers for the parsing
           function and its SV argument, rather than pointing to a real function that implements
           default parsing.  Correspondingly, "cv_set_call_parser" will accept such a pair of
           null pointers to restore default argument parsing for a subroutine.  The advantage of
           these modified semantics is that this much of the functionality is available on Perl
           versions where it is not possible to implement standard argument parsing as a distinct
           function.  This is the case on all Perl versions prior to 5.13.8.

           This header is only available on Perl versions 5.11.2 and higher.

       callparser1_h
           Content of a C header file, intended to be named ""callparser1.h"".  It is to be
           included in XS code, and "perl.h" must be included first.  When the XS module is
           loaded at runtime, the "Devel::CallParser" module must be loaded first.  This will
           result in the C functions "cv_get_call_parser", "cv_set_call_parser",
           "parse_args_parenthesised", "parse_args_nullary", "parse_args_unary",
           "parse_args_list", "parse_args_block_list", "parse_args_proto", and
           "parse_args_proto_or_list", as defined below, being available to the XS code.

           This header is only available on Perl versions 5.13.8 and higher.

       callparser_linkable
           List of names of files that must be used as additional objects when linking an XS
           module that uses the C functions supplied by this module.  This list will be empty on
           many platforms.

C FUNCTIONS

       cv_get_call_parser
           Retrieves the function that will be used to parse the arguments for a call to cv.
           Specifically, the function is used for a subroutine call, not marked with "&", where
           the callee can be identified at compile time as cv.

           The C-level function pointer is returned in *psfun_p, and an SV argument for it is
           returned in *psobj_p.  The function is intended to be called in this manner:

               argsop = (*psfun_p)(aTHX_ namegv, (*psobj_p), &flags);

           This call is to be made when the parser has just scanned and accepted a bareword and
           determined that it begins the syntax of a call to cv.  namegv is a GV supplying the
           name that should be used by the parsing function to refer to the callee if it needs to
           emit any diagnostics, and flags is a "U32" that the parsing function can write to as
           an additional output.  It is permitted to apply the parsing function in non-standard
           situations, such as to a call to a different subroutine.

           The parsing function's main output is an op tree describing a list of argument
           expressions.  This may be null for an empty list.  The argument expressions will be
           combined with the expression that identified cv and used to build an "entersub" op
           describing a complete subroutine call.  The parsing function may also set flag bits in
           flags for special effects.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS" indicates that the argument
           list was fully parenthesised, which makes a difference only in obscure situations.
           The bit "CALLPARSER_STATEMENT" indicates that what was parsed was syntactically not an
           expression but a statement.

           By default, the parsing function is Perl_parse_args_proto_or_list, and the SV
           parameter is cv itself.  This implements standard subroutine argument parsing.  It can
           be changed, for a particular subroutine, by "cv_set_call_parser".

                   void cv_get_call_parser(CV *cv, Perl_call_parser *psfun_p,
                           SV **psobj_p)

       cv_set_call_parser
           Sets the function that will be used to parse the arguments for a call to cv.
           Specifically, the function is used for a subroutine call, not marked with "&", where
           the callee can be identified at compile time as cv.

           The C-level function pointer is supplied in psfun, and an SV argument for it is
           supplied in psobj.  The function is intended to be called in this manner:

               argsop = (*psfun_p)(aTHX_ namegv, (*psobj_p), &flags);

           This call is to be made when the parser has just scanned and accepted a bareword and
           determined that it begins the syntax of a call to cv.  namegv is a GV supplying the
           name that should be used by the parsing function to refer to the callee if it needs to
           emit any diagnostics, and flags is a "U32" that the parsing function can write to as
           an additional output.  It is permitted to apply the parsing function in non-standard
           situations, such as to a call to a different subroutine.

           The parsing function's main output is an op tree describing a list of argument
           expressions.  This may be null for an empty list.  The argument expressions will be
           combined with the expression that identified cv and used to build an "entersub" op
           describing a complete subroutine call.  The parsing function may also set flag bits in
           flags for special effects.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS" indicates that the argument
           list was fully parenthesised, which makes a difference only in obscure situations.
           The bit "CALLPARSER_STATEMENT" indicates that what was parsed was syntactically not an
           expression but a statement.

           The current setting for a particular CV can be retrieved by "cv_get_call_parser".

                   void cv_set_call_parser(CV *cv, Perl_call_parser psfun,
                           SV *psobj)

       parse_args_parenthesised
           Parse a parenthesised argument list for a subroutine call.  The argument list consists
           of an optional expression enclosed in parentheses.  This is the syntax that is used
           for any subroutine call where the first thing following the subroutine name is an open
           parenthesis.  It is used regardless of the subroutine's prototype.

           The op tree representing the argument list is returned.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS"
           is set in *flags_p, to indicate that the argument list was fully parenthesised.

                   OP *parse_args_parenthesised(U32 *flags_p)

       parse_args_nullary
           Parse an argument list for a call to a subroutine that is syntactically a nullary
           function.  The argument list is either parenthesised or completely absent.  This is
           the syntax that is used for a call to a subroutine with a "()" prototype.

           The op tree representing the argument list is returned.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS"
           is set in *flags_p if the argument list was parenthesised.

                   OP *parse_args_nullary(U32 *flags_p)

       parse_args_unary
           Parse an argument list for a call to a subroutine that is syntactically a unary
           function.  The argument list is either parenthesised, absent, or consists of an
           unparenthesised arithmetic expression.  This is the syntax that is used for a call to
           a subroutine with prototype "($)", "(;$)", or certain similar prototypes.

           The op tree representing the argument list is returned.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS"
           is set in *flags_p if the argument list was parenthesised.

                   OP *parse_args_unary(U32 *flags_p)

       parse_args_list
           Parse an argument list for a call to a subroutine that is syntactically a list
           function.  The argument list is either parenthesised, absent, or consists of an
           unparenthesised list expression.  This is the syntax that is used for a call to a
           subroutine with any prototype that does not have special handling (such as "(@)" or
           "($$)") or with no prototype at all.

           The op tree representing the argument list is returned.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS"
           is set in *flags_p if the argument list was parenthesised.

                   OP *parse_args_list(U32 *flags_p)

       parse_args_block_list
           Parse an argument list for a call to a subroutine that is syntactically a block-and-
           list function.  The argument list is either parenthesised, absent, an unparenthesised
           list expression, or consists of a code block followed by an optionl list expression.
           Where the first thing seen is an open brace, it is always interpreted as a code block.
           This is the syntax that is used for a call to a subroutine with any prototype
           beginning with "&", such as "(&@)" or "(&$)".

           The op tree representing the argument list is returned.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS"
           is set in *flags_p if the argument list was parenthesised.

                   OP *parse_args_block_list(U32 *flags_p)

       parse_args_proto
           Parse a subroutine argument list based on a subroutine prototype.  The syntax used for
           the argument list will be that implemented by "parse_args_nullary",
           "parse_args_unary", "parse_args_list", or "parse_args_block_list", depending on the
           prototype.  This is the standard treatment used on a subroutine call, not marked with
           "&", where the callee can be identified at compile time and has a prototype.

           protosv supplies the subroutine prototype to be applied to the call.  It may be a
           normal defined scalar, of which the string value will be used.  Alternatively, for
           convenience, it may be a subroutine object (a "CV*" that has been cast to "SV*") which
           has a prototype.

           The namegv parameter would be used to refer to the callee if required in any error
           message, but currently no message does so.

           The op tree representing the argument list is returned.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS"
           is set in *flags_p if the argument list was parenthesised.

                   OP *parse_args_proto(GV *namegv, SV *protosv, U32 *flags_p)

       parse_args_proto_or_list
           Parse a subroutine argument list either based on a subroutine prototype or using
           default list-function syntax.  The syntax used for the argument list will be that
           implemented by "parse_args_nullary", "parse_args_unary", "parse_args_list", or
           "parse_args_block_list", depending on the prototype.  This is the standard treatment
           used on a subroutine call, not marked with "&", where the callee can be identified at
           compile time.

           protosv supplies the subroutine prototype to be applied to the call, or indicates that
           there is no prototype.  It may be a normal scalar, in which case if it is defined then
           the string value will be used as a prototype, and if it is undefined then there is no
           prototype.  Alternatively, for convenience, it may be a subroutine object (a "CV*"
           that has been cast to "SV*"), of which the prototype will be used if it has one.

           The namegv parameter would be used to refer to the callee if required in any error
           message, but currently no message does so.

           The op tree representing the argument list is returned.  The bit "CALLPARSER_PARENS"
           is set in *flags_p if the argument list was parenthesised.

                   OP *parse_args_proto_or_list(GV *namegv, SV *protosv,
                           U32 *flags_p)

BUGS

       Due to reliance on Perl core features to do anything interesting, only a very limited form
       of custom parsing is possible prior to Perl 5.13.8, and none at all prior to Perl 5.11.2.

       The way this module determines which parsing code to use for a subroutine conflicts with
       the expectations of some particularly tricky modules that use nasty hacks to perform
       custom parsing without proper support from the Perl core.  In particular, this module is
       incompatible with versions of Devel::Declare prior to 0.006004 and versions of Data::Alias
       prior to 1.13.  An arrangement has been reached that allows later versions of those
       modules to coexist with this module.

       Custom parsing code is only invoked if the subroutine to which it is attached is invoked
       using an unqualified name.  For example, the name "foo" works, but the name "main::foo"
       will not, despite referring to the same subroutine.  This is an unavoidable limitation
       imposed by the core's interim facility for custom parser plugins.  This should be resolved
       if the API provided by this module, or something similar, migrates into the core in a
       future version of Perl.

SEE ALSO

       Devel::CallChecker

AUTHOR

       Andrew Main (Zefram) <zefram@fysh.org>

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (C) 2011, 2013 Andrew Main (Zefram) <zefram@fysh.org>

LICENSE

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