NAME

       Sub::Override - Perl extension for easily overriding subroutines

VERSION

       0.10

SYNOPSIS

         use Sub::Override;

         sub foo { 'original sub' };
         print foo(); # prints 'original sub'

         my $override = Sub::Override->new( foo => sub { 'overridden sub' } );
         print foo(); # prints 'overridden sub'
         $override->restore;
         print foo(); # prints 'original sub'

DESCRIPTION

   The Problem
       Sometimes subroutines need to be overridden.  In fact, your author does this frequently for tests.
       Particularly when testing, using a Mock Object can be overkill when all you want to do is override one
       tiny, little function.

       Overriding a subroutine is often done with syntax similar to the following.

        {
          local *Some::sub = sub {'some behavior'};
          # do something
        }
        # original subroutine behavior restored

       This has a few problems.

        {
          local *Get::some_feild = { 'some behavior' };
          # do something
        }

       In the above example, not only have we probably misspelled the subroutine name, but even if there had
       been a subroutine with that name, we haven't overridden it.  These two bugs can be subtle to detect.

       Further, if we're attempting to localize the effect by placing this code in a block, the entire construct
       is cumbersome.

       Hook::LexWrap also allows us to override sub behavior, but I can never remember the exact syntax.

   An easier way to replace subroutines
       Instead, "Sub::Override" allows the programmer to simply name the sub to replace and to supply a sub to
       replace it with.

         my $override = Sub::Override->new('Some::sub', sub {'new data'});

         # which is equivalent to:
         my $override = Sub::Override->new;
         $override->replace('Some::sub', sub { 'new data' });

       You can replace multiple subroutines, if needed:

         $override->replace('Some::sub1', sub { 'new data1' });
         $override->replace('Some::sub2', sub { 'new data2' });
         $override->replace('Some::sub3', sub { 'new data3' });

       If replacing the subroutine succeeds, the object is returned.  This allows the programmer to chain the
       calls, if this style of programming is preferred:

         $override->replace('Some::sub1', sub { 'new data1' })
                  ->replace('Some::sub2', sub { 'new data2' })
                  ->replace('Some::sub3', sub { 'new data3' });

       If the subroutine has a prototype, the new subroutine should be declared with same prototype as original
       one:

         $override->replace('Some::sub_with_proto', sub ($$) { ($_[0], $_ [1]) });

       A subroutine may be replaced as many times as desired.  This is most useful when testing how code behaves
       with multiple conditions.

         $override->replace('Some::thing', sub { 0 });
         is($object->foo, 'wibble', 'wibble is returned if Some::thing is false');

         $override->replace('Some::thing', sub { 1 });
         is($object->foo, 'puppies', 'puppies are returned if Some::thing is true');

   Wrapping a subroutine
       There may be times when you want to 'conditionally' replace a subroutine - for example, to override the
       original subroutine only if certain args are passed.  For this you can specify 'wrap' instead of
       'replace'. Wrap is identical to replace, except the original subroutine is passed as the first arg to
       your new subroutine. You can call the original sub via 'shift->(@_)':

         $override->wrap('Some::sub',
           sub {
             my ($old_sub, @args) = @_;
             return 1 if $args[0];
             return $old_sub->(@args);
           }
         );

   Restoring subroutines
       If the object falls out of scope, the original subs are restored.  However, if you need to restore a
       subroutine early, just use the "restore()" method:

         my $override = Sub::Override->new('Some::sub', sub {'new data'});
         # do stuff
         $override->restore;

       Which is somewhat equivalent to:

         {
           my $override = Sub::Override->new('Some::sub', sub {'new data'});
           # do stuff
         }

       If you have overridden more than one subroutine with an override object, you will have to explicitly name
       the subroutine you wish to restore:

         $override->restore('This::sub');

       Note "restore()" will always restore the original behavior of the subroutine no matter how many times you
       have overridden it.

   Which package is the subroutine in?
       Ordinarily, you want to fully qualify the subroutine by including the package name.  However, failure to
       fully qualify the subroutine name will assume the current package.

         package Foo;
         use Sub::Override;
         sub foo { 23 };
         my $override = Sub::Override->new( foo => sub { 42 } ); # assumes Foo::foo
         print foo(); # prints 42
         $override->restore;
         print foo(); # prints 23

METHODS

   new
         my $sub = Sub::Override->new;
         my $sub = Sub::Override->new($sub_name, $sub_ref);

       Creates a new "Sub::Override" instance.  Optionally, you may override a subroutine while creating a new
       object.

   replace
        $sub->replace($sub_name, $sub_body);

       Temporarily replaces a subroutine with another subroutine.  Returns the instance, so chaining the method
       is allowed:

        $sub->replace($sub_name, $sub_body)
            ->replace($another_sub, $another_body);

       This method will "croak" if the subroutine to be replaced does not exist.

   override
        my $sub = Sub::Override->new;
        $sub->override($sub_name, $sub_body);

       "override" is an alternate name for "replace".  They are the same method.

   restore
        $sub->restore($sub_name);

       Restores the previous behavior of the subroutine.  This will happen automatically if the "Sub::Override"
       object falls out of scope.

EXPORT

       None by default.

CAVEATS

       If you need to override the same sub several times do not create a new "Sub::Override" object, but
       instead always reuse the existing one and call "replace" on it. Creating a new object to override the
       same sub will result in weird behavior.

        # Do not do this!
        my $sub_first = Sub::Override->new( 'Foo:bar' => sub { 'first' } );
        my $sub_second = Sub::Override->new( 'Foo::bar' => sub { 'second' } );

        # Do not do this either!
        my $sub = Sub::Override->new( 'Foo::bar' => sub { 'first' } );
        $sub = Sub::Override->new( 'Foo::bar' => sub { 'second' } );

       Both of those usages could result in of your subs being lost, depending on the order in which you restore
       them.

       Instead, call "replace" on the existing $sub.

        my $sub = Sub::Override->new( 'Foo::bar' => sub { 'first' } );
        $sub->replace( 'Foo::bar' => sub { 'second' } );

BUGS

       Probably.  Tell me about 'em.

SEE ALSO

       •   Hook::LexWrap -- can also override subs, but with different capabilities

       •   Test::MockObject -- use this if you need to alter an entire class

AUTHOR

       Curtis "Ovid" Poe, "<ovid [at] cpan [dot] org>"

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

       Copyright (C) 2004-2013 by Curtis "Ovid" Poe

       This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl
       itself, either Perl version 5.8.2 or, at your option, any later version of Perl 5 you may have available.