NAME Exporter::Lite - Lightweight exporting of variables SYNOPSIS package Foo; use Exporter::Lite; # Just like Exporter. @EXPORT = qw($This That); @EXPORT_OK = qw(@Left %Right); # Meanwhile, in another piece of code! package Bar; use Foo; # exports $This and &That. DESCRIPTION This is an alternative to Exporter intended to provide a lightweight subset of its functionality. It supports "import()", @EXPORT and @EXPORT_OK and not a whole lot else. Unlike Exporter, it is not necessary to inherit from Exporter::Lite (ie. no "@ISA = qw(Exporter::Lite)" mantra). Exporter::Lite simply exports its import() function. This might be called a "mix-in". Setting up a module to export its variables and functions is simple: package My::Module; use Exporter::Lite; @EXPORT = qw($Foo bar); now when you "use My::Module", $Foo and "bar()" will show up. In order to make exporting optional, use @EXPORT_OK. package My::Module; use Exporter::Lite; @EXPORT_OK = qw($Foo bar); when My::Module is used, $Foo and "bar()" will *not* show up. You have to ask for them. "use My::Module qw($Foo bar)". Methods Export::Lite has one public method, import(), which is called automaticly when your modules is use()'d. In normal usage you don't have to worry about this at all. import Some::Module->import; Some::Module->import(@symbols); Works just like "Exporter::import()" excepting it only honors @Some::Module::EXPORT and @Some::Module::EXPORT_OK. The given @symbols are exported to the current package provided they are in @Some::Module::EXPORT or @Some::Module::EXPORT_OK. Otherwise an exception is thrown (ie. the program dies). If @symbols is not given, everything in @Some::Module::EXPORT is exported. DIAGNOSTICS '"%s" is not exported by the %s module' Attempted to import a symbol which is not in @EXPORT or @EXPORT_OK. 'Can\'t export symbol: %s' Attempted to import a symbol of an unknown type (ie. the leading $@% salad wasn't recognized). BUGS and CAVEATS Its not yet clear if this is actually any lighter or faster than Exporter. I know its at least on par. OTOH, the docs are much clearer and not having to say "@ISA = qw(Exporter)" is kinda nice. AUTHORS Michael G Schwern LICENSE This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. See http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html SEE ALSO Exporter, Exporter::Simple, UNIVERSAL::exports