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perlxs (1)
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    NAME

         perlxs - XS language reference manual
    
    
    

    DESCRIPTION

         Introduction
    
         XS is an interface description file format used to create an
         extension interface between Perl and C code (or a C library)
         which one wishes to use with Perl.  The XS interface is
         combined with the library to create a new library which can
         then be either dynamically loaded or statically linked into
         perl.  The XS interface description is written in the XS
         language and is the core component of the Perl extension
         interface.
    
         An XSUB forms the basic unit of the XS interface.  After
         compilation by the xsubpp compiler, each XSUB amounts to a C
         function definition which will provide the glue between Perl
         calling conventions and C calling conventions.
    
         The glue code pulls the arguments from the Perl stack,
         converts these Perl values to the formats expected by a C
         function, call this C function, transfers the return values
         of the C function back to Perl.  Return values here may be a
         conventional C return value or any C function arguments that
         may serve as output parameters.  These return values may be
         passed back to Perl either by putting them on the Perl
         stack, or by modifying the arguments supplied from the Perl
         side.
    
         The above is a somewhat simplified view of what really
         happens.  Since Perl allows more flexible calling
         conventions than C, XSUBs may do much more in practice, such
         as checking input parameters for validity, throwing
         exceptions (or returning undef/empty list) if the return
         value from the C function indicates failure, calling
         different C functions based on numbers and types of the
         arguments, providing an object-oriented interface, etc.
    
         Of course, one could write such glue code directly in C.
         However, this would be a tedious task, especially if one
         needs to write glue for multiple C functions, and/or one is
         not familiar enough with the Perl stack discipline and other
         such arcana.  XS comes to the rescue here:  instead of
         writing this glue C code in long-hand, one can write a more
         concise short-hand description of what should be done by the
         glue, and let the XS compiler xsubpp handle the rest.
    
         The XS language allows one to describe the mapping between
         how the C routine is used, and how the corresponding Perl
         routine is used.  It also allows creation of Perl routines
         which are directly translated to C code and which are not
         related to a pre-existing C function.  In cases when the C
         interface coincides with the Perl interface, the XSUB
         declaration is almost identical to a declaration of a C
         function (in K&R style).  In such circumstances, there is
         another tool called `h2xs' that is able to translate an
         entire C header file into a corresponding XS file that will
         provide glue to the functions/macros described in the header
         file.
    
         The XS compiler is called xsubpp.  This compiler creates the
         constructs necessary to let an XSUB manipulate Perl values,
         and creates the glue necessary to let Perl call the XSUB.
         The compiler uses typemaps to determine how to map C
         function parameters and output values to Perl values and
         back.  The default typemap (which comes with Perl) handles
         many common C types.  A supplementary typemap may also be
         needed to handle any special structures and types for the
         library being linked.
    
         A file in XS format starts with a C language section which
         goes until the first `MODULE =' directive.  Other XS
         directives and XSUB definitions may follow this line.  The
         "language" used in this part of the file is usually referred
         to as the XS language.
    
         See the perlxstut manpage for a tutorial on the whole
         extension creation process.
    
         Note: For some extensions, Dave Beazley's SWIG system may
         provide a significantly more convenient mechanism for
         creating the extension glue code. See the section on
         "/www.swig.org" in the http: manpage for more information.
    
         On The Road
    
         Many of the examples which follow will concentrate on
         creating an interface between Perl and the ONC+ RPC bind
         library functions.  The rpcb_gettime() function is used to
         demonstrate many features of the XS language.  This function
         has two parameters; the first is an input parameter and the
         second is an output parameter.  The function also returns a
         status value.
    
                 bool_t rpcb_gettime(const char *host, time_t *timep);
    
         From C this function will be called with the following
         statements.
    
              #include <rpc/rpc.h>
              bool_t status;
              time_t timep;
              status = rpcb_gettime( "localhost", &timep );
    
         If an XSUB is created to offer a direct translation between
         this function and Perl, then this XSUB will be used from
         Perl with the following code.  The $status and $timep
         variables will contain the output of the function.
    
              use RPC;
              $status = rpcb_gettime( "localhost", $timep );
    
         The following XS file shows an XS subroutine, or XSUB, which
         demonstrates one possible interface to the rpcb_gettime()
         function.  This XSUB represents a direct translation between
         C and Perl and so preserves the interface even from Perl.
         This XSUB will be invoked from Perl with the usage shown
         above.  Note that the first three #include statements, for
         `EXTERN.h', `perl.h', and `XSUB.h', will always be present
         at the beginning of an XS file.  This approach and others
         will be expanded later in this document.
    
              #include "EXTERN.h"
              #include "perl.h"
              #include "XSUB.h"
              #include <rpc/rpc.h>
    
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = RPC
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t &timep
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
         Any extension to Perl, including those containing XSUBs,
         should have a Perl module to serve as the bootstrap which
         pulls the extension into Perl.  This module will export the
         extension's functions and variables to the Perl program and
         will cause the extension's XSUBs to be linked into Perl.
         The following module will be used for most of the examples
         in this document and should be used from Perl with the `use'
         command as shown earlier.  Perl modules are explained in
         more detail later in this document.
    
              package RPC;
    
              require Exporter;
              require DynaLoader;
              @ISA = qw(Exporter DynaLoader);
              @EXPORT = qw( rpcb_gettime );
    
              bootstrap RPC;
              1;
    
         Throughout this document a variety of interfaces to the
         rpcb_gettime() XSUB will be explored.  The XSUBs will take
         their parameters in different orders or will take different
         numbers of parameters.  In each case the XSUB is an
         abstraction between Perl and the real C rpcb_gettime()
         function, and the XSUB must always ensure that the real
         rpcb_gettime() function is called with the correct
         parameters.  This abstraction will allow the programmer to
         create a more Perl-like interface to the C function.
    
         The Anatomy of an XSUB
    
         The simplest XSUBs consist of 3 parts: a description of the
         return value, the name of the XSUB routine and the names of
         its arguments, and a description of types or formats of the
         arguments.
    
         The following XSUB allows a Perl program to access a C
         library function called sin().  The XSUB will imitate the C
         function which takes a single argument and returns a single
         value.
    
              double
              sin(x)
                double x
    
         When using parameters with C pointer types, as in
    
              double string_to_double(char *s);
    
         there may be two ways to describe this argument to xsubpp:
    
              char *  s
              char    &s
    
         Both these XS declarations correspond to the `char*' C type,
         but they have different semantics.  It is convenient to
         think that the indirection operator `*' should be considered
         as a part of the type and the address operator `&' should be
         considered part of the variable.  See the section on "The
         Typemap" and the section on "The & Unary Operator" for more
         info about handling qualifiers and unary operators in C
         types.
    
         The function name and the return type must be placed on
         separate lines and should be flush left-adjusted.
    
           INCORRECT                        CORRECT
    
           double sin(x)                    double
             double x                       sin(x)
                                              double x
    
         The function body may be indented or left-adjusted.  The
         following example shows a function with its body left-
         adjusted.  Most examples in this document will indent the
         body for better readability.
    
           CORRECT
    
           double
           sin(x)
           double x
    
         More complicated XSUBs may contain many other sections.
         Each section of an XSUB starts with the corresponding
         keyword, such as INIT: or CLEANUP:.  However, the first two
         lines of an XSUB always contain the same data:  descriptions
         of the return type and the names of the function and its
         parameters.  Whatever immediately follows these is
         considered to be an INPUT: section unless explicitly marked
         with another keyword.  (See the The INPUT: Keyword entry
         elsewhere in this document.)
    
         An XSUB section continues until another section-start
         keyword is found.
    
         The Argument Stack
    
         The Perl argument stack is used to store the values which
         are sent as parameters to the XSUB and to store the XSUB's
         return value(s).  In reality all Perl functions (including
         non-XSUB ones) keep their values on this stack all the same
         time, each limited to its own range of positions on the
         stack.  In this document the first position on that stack
         which belongs to the active function will be referred to as
         position 0 for that function.
    
         XSUBs refer to their stack arguments with the macro SSTT(x),
         where x refers to a position in this XSUB's part of the
         stack.  Position 0 for that function would be known to the
         XSUB as ST(0).  The XSUB's incoming parameters and outgoing
         return values always begin at ST(0).  For many simple cases
         the xsubpp compiler will generate the code necessary to
         handle the argument stack by embedding code fragments found
         in the typemaps.  In more complex cases the programmer must
         supply the code.
    
         The RETVAL Variable
    
         The RETVAL variable is a special C variable that is declared
         automatically for you.  The C type of RETVAL matches the
         return type of the C library function.  The xsubpp compiler
         will declare this variable in each XSUB with non-`void'
         return type.  By default the generated C function will use
         RETVAL to hold the return value of the C library function
         being called.  In simple cases the value of RETVAL will be
         placed in ST(0) of the argument stack where it can be
         received by Perl as the return value of the XSUB.
    
         If the XSUB has a return type of `void' then the compiler
         will not declare a RETVAL variable for that function.  When
         using a PPCODE: section no manipulation of the RETVAL
         variable is required, the section may use direct stack
         manipulation to place output values on the stack.
    
         If PPCODE: directive is not used, `void' return value should
         be used only for subroutines which do not return a value,
         even if CODE:  directive is used which sets ST(0)
         explicitly.
    
         Older versions of this document recommended to use `void'
         return value in such cases. It was discovered that this
         could lead to segfaults in cases when XSUB was truly `void'.
         This practice is now deprecated, and may be not supported at
         some future version. Use the return value `SV *' in such
         cases. (Currently `xsubpp' contains some heuristic code
         which tries to disambiguate between "truly-void" and "old-
         practice-declared-as-void" functions. Hence your code is at
         mercy of this heuristics unless you use `SV *' as return
         value.)
    
         The MODULE Keyword
    
         The MODULE keyword is used to start the XS code and to
         specify the package of the functions which are being
         defined.  All text preceding the first MODULE keyword is
         considered C code and is passed through to the output
         untouched.  Every XS module will have a bootstrap function
         which is used to hook the XSUBs into Perl.  The package name
         of this bootstrap function will match the value of the last
         MODULE statement in the XS source files.  The value of
         MODULE should always remain constant within the same XS
         file, though this is not required.
    
         The following example will start the XS code and will place
         all functions in a package named RPC.
    
              MODULE = RPC
    
    
         The PACKAGE Keyword
    
         When functions within an XS source file must be separated
         into packages the PACKAGE keyword should be used.  This
         keyword is used with the MODULE keyword and must follow
         immediately after it when used.
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = RPC
    
              [ XS code in package RPC ]
    
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = RPCB
    
              [ XS code in package RPCB ]
    
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = RPC
    
              [ XS code in package RPC ]
    
         Although this keyword is optional and in some cases provides
         redundant information it should always be used.  This
         keyword will ensure that the XSUBs appear in the desired
         package.
    
         The PREFIX Keyword
    
         The PREFIX keyword designates prefixes which should be
         removed from the Perl function names.  If the C function is
         `rpcb_gettime()' and the PREFIX value is `rpcb_' then Perl
         will see this function as `gettime()'.
    
         This keyword should follow the PACKAGE keyword when used.
         If PACKAGE is not used then PREFIX should follow the MODULE
         keyword.
    
              MODULE = RPC  PREFIX = rpc_
    
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = RPCB  PREFIX = rpcb_
    
    
         The OUTPUT: Keyword
    
         The OUTPUT: keyword indicates that certain function
         parameters should be updated (new values made visible to
         Perl) when the XSUB terminates or that certain values should
         be returned to the calling Perl function.  For simple
         functions which have no CODE: or PPCODE: section, such as
         the sin() function above, the RETVAL variable is
         automatically designated as an output value.  For more
         complex functions the xsubpp compiler will need help to
         determine which variables are output variables.
    
         This keyword will normally be used to complement the CODE:
         keyword.  The RETVAL variable is not recognized as an output
         variable when the CODE: keyword is present.  The OUTPUT:
         keyword is used in this situation to tell the compiler that
         RETVAL really is an output variable.
    
    
         The OUTPUT: keyword can also be used to indicate that
         function parameters are output variables.  This may be
         necessary when a parameter has been modified within the
         function and the programmer would like the update to be seen
         by Perl.
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t &timep
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
         The OUTPUT: keyword will also allow an output parameter to
         be mapped to a matching piece of code rather than to a
         typemap.
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t &timep
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep sv_setnv(ST(1), (double)timep);
    
         xsubpp emits an automatic `SvSETMAGIC()' for all parameters
         in the OUTPUT section of the XSUB, except RETVAL.  This is
         the usually desired behavior, as it takes care of properly
         invoking 'set' magic on output parameters (needed for hash
         or array element parameters that must be created if they
         didn't exist).  If for some reason, this behavior is not
         desired, the OUTPUT section may contain a `SETMAGIC:
         DISABLE' line to disable it for the remainder of the
         parameters in the OUTPUT section.  Likewise,  `SETMAGIC:
         ENABLE' can be used to reenable it for the remainder of the
         OUTPUT section.  See the perlguts manpage for more details
         about 'set' magic.
    
         The CODE: Keyword
    
         This keyword is used in more complicated XSUBs which require
         special handling for the C function.  The RETVAL variable is
         still declared, but it will not be returned unless it is
         specified in the OUTPUT: section.
    
         The following XSUB is for a C function which requires
         special handling of its parameters.  The Perl usage is given
         first.
    
              $status = rpcb_gettime( "localhost", $timep );
    
         The XSUB follows.
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t timep
                 CODE:
                        RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
    
         The INIT: Keyword
    
         The INIT: keyword allows initialization to be inserted into
         the XSUB before the compiler generates the call to the C
         function.  Unlike the CODE: keyword above, this keyword does
         not affect the way the compiler handles RETVAL.
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t &timep
                 INIT:
                   printf("# Host is %s\n", host );
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
         Another use for the INIT: section is to check for
         preconditions before making a call to the C function:
    
             long long
             lldiv(a,b)
                 long long a
                 long long b
               INIT:
                 if (a == 0 && b == 0)
                     XSRETURN_UNDEF;
                 if (b == 0)
                     croak("lldiv: cannot divide by 0");
    
    
         The NO_INIT Keyword
    
         The NO_INIT keyword is used to indicate that a function
         parameter is being used only as an output value.  The xsubpp
         compiler will normally generate code to read the values of
         all function parameters from the argument stack and assign
         them to C variables upon entry to the function.  NO_INIT
         will tell the compiler that some parameters will be used for
         output rather than for input and that they will be handled
         before the function terminates.
    
         The following example shows a variation of the
         rpcb_gettime() function.  This function uses the timep
         variable only as an output variable and does not care about
         its initial contents.
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t &timep = NO_INIT
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
    
         Initializing Function Parameters
    
         C function parameters are normally initialized with their
         values from the argument stack (which in turn contains the
         parameters that were passed to the XSUB from Perl).  The
         typemaps contain the code segments which are used to
         translate the Perl values to the C parameters.  The
         programmer, however, is allowed to override the typemaps and
         supply alternate (or additional) initialization code.
         Initialization code starts with the first `=', `;' or `+' on
         a line in the INPUT: section.  The only exception happens if
         this `;' terminates the line, then this `;' is quietly
         ignored.
    
         The following code demonstrates how to supply initialization
         code for function parameters.  The initialization code is
         eval'd within double quotes by the compiler before it is
         added to the output so anything which should be interpreted
         literally [mainly `$', `@', or `\\'] must be protected with
         backslashes.  The variables $var, $arg, and $type can be
         used as in typemaps.
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host = (char *)SvPV($arg,PL_na);
                   time_t &timep = 0;
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
         This should not be used to supply default values for
         parameters.  One would normally use this when a function
         parameter must be processed by another library function
         before it can be used.  Default parameters are covered in
         the next section.
    
         If the initialization begins with `=', then it is output in
         the declaration for the input variable, replacing the
         initialization supplied by the typemap.  If the
         initialization begins with `;' or `+', then it is performed
         after all of the input variables have been declared.  In the
         `;' case the initialization normally supplied by the typemap
         is not performed.  For the `+' case, the declaration for the
         variable will include the initialization from the typemap.
         A global variable, `%v', is available for the truly rare
         case where information from one initialization is needed in
         another initialization.
    
         Here's a truly obscure example:
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   time_t &timep ; /* \$v{timep}=@{[$v{timep}=$arg]} */
                   char *host + SvOK($v{timep}) ? SvPV($arg,PL_na) : NULL;
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
         The construct `\$v{timep}=@{[$v{timep}=$arg]}' used in the
         above example has a two-fold purpose: first, when this line
         is processed by xsubpp, the Perl snippet `$v{timep}=$arg' is
         evaluated.  Second, the text of the evaluated snippet is
         output into the generated C file (inside a C comment)!
         During the processing of `char *host' line, $arg will
         evaluate to `ST(0)', and `$v{timep}' will evaluate to
         `ST(1)'.
    
         Default Parameter Values
    
         Default values for XSUB arguments can be specified by
         placing an assignment statement in the parameter list.  The
         default value may be a number, a string or the special
         string `NO_INIT'.  Defaults should always be used on the
         right-most parameters only.
    
         To allow the XSUB for rpcb_gettime() to have a default host
         value the parameters to the XSUB could be rearranged.  The
         XSUB will then call the real rpcb_gettime() function with
         the parameters in the correct order.  This XSUB can be
         called from Perl with either of the following statements:
    
              $status = rpcb_gettime( $timep, $host );
    
              $status = rpcb_gettime( $timep );
    
         The XSUB will look like the code  which  follows.   A  CODE:
         block  is used to call the real rpcb_gettime() function with
         the parameters in the correct order for that function.
    
    
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(timep,host="localhost")
                   char *host
                   time_t timep = NO_INIT
                 CODE:
                        RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
    
         The PREINIT: Keyword
    
         The PREINIT: keyword allows extra variables to be declared
         immediately before or after the declartions of the
         parameters from the INPUT: section are emitted.
    
         If a variable is declared inside a CODE: section it will
         follow any typemap code that is emitted for the input
         parameters.  This may result in the declaration ending up
         after C code, which is C syntax error.  Similar errors may
         happen with an explicit `;'-type or `+'-type initialization
         of parameters is used (see the section on "Initializing
         Function Parameters").  Declaring these variables in an
         INIT: section will not help.
    
         In such cases, to force an additional variable to be
         declared together with declarations of other variables,
         place the declaration into a PREINIT: section.  The PREINIT:
         keyword may be used one or more times within an XSUB.
    
         The following examples are equivalent, but if the code is
         using complex typemaps then the first example is safer.
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(timep)
                   time_t timep = NO_INIT
                 PREINIT:
                   char *host = "localhost";
                 CODE:
                   RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
         For this particular case an INIT: keyword would generate the
         same C code as the PREINIT: keyword.  Another correct, but
         error-prone example:
    
    
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(timep)
                   time_t timep = NO_INIT
                 CODE:
                   char *host = "localhost";
                   RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
         Another way to declare `host' is to use a C block in the
         CODE: section:
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(timep)
                   time_t timep = NO_INIT
                 CODE:
                   {
                     char *host = "localhost";
                     RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                   }
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
         The ability to put additional declarations before the
         typemap entries are processed is very handy in the cases
         when typemap conversions manipulate some global state:
    
             MyObject
             mutate(o)
                 PREINIT:
                     MyState st = global_state;
                 INPUT:
                     MyObject o;
                 CLEANUP:
                     reset_to(global_state, st);
    
         Here we suppose that conversion to `MyObject' in the INPUT:
         section and from MyObject when processing RETVAL will modify
         a global variable `global_state'.  After these conversions
         are performed, we restore the old value of `global_state'
         (to avoid memory leaks, for example).
    
         There is another way to trade clarity for compactness: INPUT
         sections allow declaration of C variables which do not
         appear in the parameter list of a subroutine.  Thus the
         above code for mutate() can be rewritten as
    
    
    
             MyObject
             mutate(o)
                   MyState st = global_state;
                   MyObject o;
                 CLEANUP:
                   reset_to(global_state, st);
    
         and the code for rpcb_gettime() can be rewritten as
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(timep)
                   time_t timep = NO_INIT
                   char *host = "localhost";
                 C_ARGS:
                   host, &timep
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
    
         The SCOPE: Keyword
    
         The SCOPE: keyword allows scoping to be enabled for a
         particular XSUB. If enabled, the XSUB will invoke ENTER and
         LEAVE automatically.
    
         To support potentially complex type mappings, if a typemap
         entry used by an XSUB contains a comment like `/*scope*/'
         then scoping will be automatically enabled for that XSUB.
    
         To enable scoping:
    
             SCOPE: ENABLE
    
         To disable scoping:
    
             SCOPE: DISABLE
    
    
         The INPUT: Keyword
    
         The XSUB's parameters are usually evaluated immediately
         after entering the XSUB.  The INPUT: keyword can be used to
         force those parameters to be evaluated a little later.  The
         INPUT: keyword can be used multiple times within an XSUB and
         can be used to list one or more input variables.  This
         keyword is used with the PREINIT: keyword.
    
         The following example shows how the input parameter `timep'
         can be evaluated late, after a PREINIT.
    
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                 PREINIT:
                   time_t tt;
                 INPUT:
                   time_t timep
                 CODE:
                        RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &tt );
                        timep = tt;
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
         The next example shows each input parameter evaluated late.
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                 PREINIT:
                   time_t tt;
                 INPUT:
                   char *host
                 PREINIT:
                   char *h;
                 INPUT:
                   time_t timep
                 CODE:
                        h = host;
                        RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( h, &tt );
                        timep = tt;
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
         Since INPUT sections allow declaration of C variables which
         do not appear in the parameter list of a subroutine, this
         may be shortened to:
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   time_t tt;
                   char *host;
                   char *h = host;
                   time_t timep;
                 CODE:
                   RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( h, &tt );
                   timep = tt;
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
         (We used our knowledge that input conversion for `char *' is
         a "simple" one, thus `host' is initialized on the
         declaration line, and our assignment `h = host' is not
         performed too early.  Otherwise one would need to have the
         assignment `h = host' in a CODE: or INIT: section.)
    
         Variable-length Parameter Lists
    
         XSUBs can have variable-length parameter lists by specifying
         an ellipsis `(...)' in the parameter list.  This use of the
         ellipsis is similar to that found in ANSI C.  The programmer
         is able to determine the number of arguments passed to the
         XSUB by examining the `items' variable which the xsubpp
         compiler supplies for all XSUBs.  By using this mechanism
         one can create an XSUB which accepts a list of parameters of
         unknown length.
    
         The host parameter for the rpcb_gettime() XSUB can be
         optional so the ellipsis can be used to indicate that the
         XSUB will take a variable number of parameters.  Perl should
         be able to call this XSUB with either of the following
         statements.
    
              $status = rpcb_gettime( $timep, $host );
    
              $status = rpcb_gettime( $timep );
    
         The XS code, with ellipsis, follows.
    
              bool_t
              rpcb_gettime(timep, ...)
                   time_t timep = NO_INIT
                 PREINIT:
                   char *host = "localhost";
                   STRLEN n_a;
                 CODE:
                   if( items > 1 )
                        host = (char *)SvPV(ST(1), n_a);
                   RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
    
         The C_ARGS: Keyword
    
         The C_ARGS: keyword allows creating of XSUBS which have
         different calling sequence from Perl than from C, without a
         need to write CODE: or PPCODE: section.  The contents of the
         C_ARGS: paragraph is put as the argument to the called C
         function without any change.
    
    
         For example, suppose that a C function is declared as
    
             symbolic nth_derivative(int n, symbolic function, int flags);
    
         and that the default flags are kept in a global C variable
         `default_flags'.  Suppose that you want to create an
         interface which is called as
    
             $second_deriv = $function->nth_derivative(2);
    
         To do this, declare the XSUB as
    
             symbolic
             nth_derivative(function, n)
                 symbolic        function
                 int             n
               C_ARGS:
                 n, function, default_flags
    
    
         The PPCODE: Keyword
    
         The PPCODE: keyword is an alternate form of the CODE:
         keyword and is used to tell the xsubpp compiler that the
         programmer is supplying the code to control the argument
         stack for the XSUBs return values.  Occasionally one will
         want an XSUB to return a list of values rather than a single
         value.  In these cases one must use PPCODE: and then
         explicitly push the list of values on the stack.  The
         PPCODE: and CODE:  keywords should not be used together
         within the same XSUB.
    
         The actual difference between PPCODE: and CODE: sections is
         in the initialization of `SP' macro (which stands for the
         current Perl stack pointer), and in the handling of data on
         the stack when returning from an XSUB.  In CODE: sections SP
         preserves the value which was on entry to the XSUB: SP is on
         the function pointer (which follows the last parameter).  In
         PPCODE: sections SP is moved backward to the beginning of
         the parameter list, which allows `PUSH*()' macros to place
         output values in the place Perl expects them to be when the
         XSUB returns back to Perl.
    
         The generated trailer for a CODE: section ensures that the
         number of return values Perl will see is either 0 or 1
         (depending on the `void'ness of the return value of the C
         function, and heuristics mentioned in the section on "The
         RETVAL Variable").  The trailer generated for a PPCODE:
         section is based on the number of return values and on the
         number of times `SP' was updated by `[X]PUSH*()' macros.
    
    
         Note that macros `ST(i)', `XST_m*()' and `XSRETURN*()' work
         equally well in CODE: sections and PPCODE: sections.
    
         The following XSUB will call the C rpcb_gettime() function
         and will return its two output values, timep and status, to
         Perl as a single list.
    
              void
              rpcb_gettime(host)
                   char *host
                 PREINIT:
                   time_t  timep;
                   bool_t  status;
                 PPCODE:
                   status = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                   EXTEND(SP, 2);
                   PUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSViv(status)));
                   PUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSViv(timep)));
    
         Notice that the programmer must supply the C code necessary
         to have the real rpcb_gettime() function called and to have
         the return values properly placed on the argument stack.
    
         The `void' return type for this function tells the xsubpp
         compiler that the RETVAL variable is not needed or used and
         that it should not be created.  In most scenarios the void
         return type should be used with the PPCODE:  directive.
    
         The EXTEND() macro is used to make room on the argument
         stack for 2 return values.  The PPCODE: directive causes the
         xsubpp compiler to create a stack pointer available as `SP',
         and it is this pointer which is being used in the EXTEND()
         macro.  The values are then pushed onto the stack with the
         PUSHs() macro.
    
         Now the rpcb_gettime() function can be used from Perl with
         the following statement.
    
              ($status, $timep) = rpcb_gettime("localhost");
    
         When handling output parameters with a PPCODE section, be
         sure to handle 'set' magic properly.  See the perlguts
         manpage for details about 'set' magic.
    
         Returning Undef And Empty Lists
    
         Occasionally the programmer will want to return simply
         `undef' or an empty list if a function fails rather than a
         separate status value.  The rpcb_gettime() function offers
         just this situation.  If the function succeeds we would like
         to have it return the time and if it fails we would like to
         have undef returned.  In the following Perl code the value
         of $timep will either be undef or it will be a valid time.
    
              $timep = rpcb_gettime( "localhost" );
    
         The following XSUB uses the `SV *' return type as a mnemonic
         only, and uses a CODE: block to indicate to the compiler
         that the programmer has supplied all the necessary code.
         The sv_newmortal() call will initialize the return value to
         undef, making that the default return value.
    
              SV *
              rpcb_gettime(host)
                   char *  host
                 PREINIT:
                   time_t  timep;
                   bool_t x;
                 CODE:
                   ST(0) = sv_newmortal();
                   if( rpcb_gettime( host, &timep ) )
                        sv_setnv( ST(0), (double)timep);
    
         The next example demonstrates how one would place an
         explicit undef in the return value, should the need arise.
    
              SV *
              rpcb_gettime(host)
                   char *  host
                 PREINIT:
                   time_t  timep;
                   bool_t x;
                 CODE:
                   ST(0) = sv_newmortal();
                   if( rpcb_gettime( host, &timep ) ){
                        sv_setnv( ST(0), (double)timep);
                   }
                   else{
                        ST(0) = &PL_sv_undef;
                   }
    
         To return an empty list one must use a PPCODE: block and
         then not push return values on the stack.
    
    
    
              void
              rpcb_gettime(host)
                   char *host
                 PREINIT:
                   time_t  timep;
                 PPCODE:
                   if( rpcb_gettime( host, &timep ) )
                        PUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSViv(timep)));
                   else{
                       /* Nothing pushed on stack, so an empty
                        * list is implicitly returned. */
                   }
    
         Some people may be inclined to include an explicit `return'
         in the above XSUB, rather than letting control fall through
         to the end.  In those situations `XSRETURN_EMPTY' should be
         used, instead.  This will ensure that the XSUB stack is
         properly adjusted.  Consult the API LISTING entry in the
         perlguts manpage for other `XSRETURN' macros.
    
         Since `XSRETURN_*' macros can be used with CODE blocks as
         well, one can rewrite this example as:
    
              int
              rpcb_gettime(host)
                   char *host
                 PREINIT:
                   time_t  timep;
                 CODE:
                   RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                   if (RETVAL == 0)
                         XSRETURN_UNDEF;
                 OUTPUT:
                   RETVAL
    
         In fact, one can put this check into a CLEANUP: section as
         well.  Together with PREINIT: simplifications, this leads
         to:
    
              int
              rpcb_gettime(host)
                   char *host
                   time_t  timep;
                 CLEANUP:
                   if (RETVAL == 0)
                         XSRETURN_UNDEF;
    
    
         The REQUIRE: Keyword
    
         The REQUIRE: keyword is used to indicate the minimum version
         of the xsubpp compiler needed to compile the XS module.  An
         XS module which contains the following statement will
         compile with only xsubpp version 1.922 or greater:
    
                 REQUIRE: 1.922
    
    
         The CLEANUP: Keyword
    
         This keyword can be used when an XSUB requires special
         cleanup procedures before it terminates.  When the CLEANUP:
         keyword is used it must follow any CODE:, PPCODE:, or
         OUTPUT: blocks which are present in the XSUB.  The code
         specified for the cleanup block will be added as the last
         statements in the XSUB.
    
         The BOOT: Keyword
    
         The BOOT: keyword is used to add code to the extension's
         bootstrap function.  The bootstrap function is generated by
         the xsubpp compiler and normally holds the statements
         necessary to register any XSUBs with Perl.  With the BOOT:
         keyword the programmer can tell the compiler to add extra
         statements to the bootstrap function.
    
         This keyword may be used any time after the first MODULE
         keyword and should appear on a line by itself.  The first
         blank line after the keyword will terminate the code block.
    
              BOOT:
              # The following message will be printed when the
              # bootstrap function executes.
              printf("Hello from the bootstrap!\n");
    
    
         The VERSIONCHECK: Keyword
    
         The VERSIONCHECK: keyword corresponds to xsubpp's
         `-versioncheck' and `-noversioncheck' options.  This keyword
         overrides the command line options.  Version checking is
         enabled by default.  When version checking is enabled the XS
         module will attempt to verify that its version matches the
         version of the PM module.
    
         To enable version checking:
    
             VERSIONCHECK: ENABLE
    
         To disable version checking:
    
             VERSIONCHECK: DISABLE
    
    
         The PROTOTYPES: Keyword
    
         The PROTOTYPES: keyword corresponds to xsubpp's
         `-prototypes' and `-noprototypes' options.  This keyword
         overrides the command line options.  Prototypes are enabled
         by default.  When prototypes are enabled XSUBs will be given
         Perl prototypes.  This keyword may be used multiple times in
         an XS module to enable and disable prototypes for different
         parts of the module.
    
         To enable prototypes:
    
             PROTOTYPES: ENABLE
    
         To disable prototypes:
    
             PROTOTYPES: DISABLE
    
    
         The PROTOTYPE: Keyword
    
         This keyword is similar to the PROTOTYPES: keyword above but
         can be used to force xsubpp to use a specific prototype for
         the XSUB.  This keyword overrides all other prototype
         options and keywords but affects only the current XSUB.
         Consult the Prototypes entry in the perlsub manpage for
         information about Perl prototypes.
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(timep, ...)
                   time_t timep = NO_INIT
                 PROTOTYPE: $;$
                 PREINIT:
                   char *host = "localhost";
                   STRLEN n_a;
                 CODE:
                           if( items > 1 )
                                host = (char *)SvPV(ST(1), n_a);
                           RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( host, &timep );
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
                   RETVAL
    
    
         The ALIAS: Keyword
    
         The ALIAS: keyword allows an XSUB to have two or more unique
         Perl names and to know which of those names was used when it
         was invoked.  The Perl names may be fully-qualified with
         package names.  Each alias is given an index.  The compiler
         will setup a variable called `ix' which contain the index of
         the alias which was used.  When the XSUB is called with its
         declared name `ix' will be 0.
    
         The following example will create aliases `FOO::gettime()'
         and `BAR::getit()' for this function.
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t &timep
                 ALIAS:
                     FOO::gettime = 1
                     BAR::getit = 2
                 INIT:
                   printf("# ix = %d\n", ix );
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
    
         The INTERFACE: Keyword
    
         This keyword declares the current XSUB as a keeper of the
         given calling signature.  If some text follows this keyword,
         it is considered as a list of functions which have this
         signature, and should be attached to the current XSUB.
    
         For example, if you have 4 C functions multiply(), divide(),
         add(), subtract() all having the signature:
    
             symbolic f(symbolic, symbolic);
    
         you can make them all to use the same XSUB using this:
    
             symbolic
             interface_s_ss(arg1, arg2)
                 symbolic        arg1
                 symbolic        arg2
             INTERFACE:
                 multiply divide
                 add subtract
    
         (This is the complete XSUB code for 4 Perl functions!)  Four
         generated Perl function share names with corresponding C
         functions.
    
         The advantage of this approach comparing to ALIAS: keyword
         is that there is no need to code a switch statement, each
         Perl function (which shares the same XSUB) knows which C
         function it should call.  Additionally, one can attach an
         extra function remainder() at runtime by using
    
    
    
             CV *mycv = newXSproto("Symbolic::remainder",
                                   XS_Symbolic_interface_s_ss, __FILE__, "$$");
             XSINTERFACE_FUNC_SET(mycv, remainder);
    
         say, from another XSUB.  (This example supposes that there
         was no INTERFACE_MACRO: section, otherwise one needs to use
         something else instead of `XSINTERFACE_FUNC_SET', see the
         next section.)
    
         The INTERFACE_MACRO: Keyword
    
         This keyword allows one to define an INTERFACE using a
         different way to extract a function pointer from an XSUB.
         The text which follows this keyword should give the name of
         macros which would extract/set a function pointer.  The
         extractor macro is given return type, `CV*', and
         `XSANY.any_dptr' for this `CV*'.  The setter macro is given
         cv, and the function pointer.
    
         The default value is `XSINTERFACE_FUNC' and
         `XSINTERFACE_FUNC_SET'.  An INTERFACE keyword with an empty
         list of functions can be omitted if INTERFACE_MACRO keyword
         is used.
    
         Suppose that in the previous example functions pointers for
         multiply(), divide(), add(), subtract() are kept in a global
         C array `fp[]' with offsets being `multiply_off',
         `divide_off', `add_off', `subtract_off'.  Then one can use
    
             #define XSINTERFACE_FUNC_BYOFFSET(ret,cv,f) \
                 ((XSINTERFACE_CVT(ret,))fp[CvXSUBANY(cv).any_i32])
             #define XSINTERFACE_FUNC_BYOFFSET_set(cv,f) \
                 CvXSUBANY(cv).any_i32 = CAT2( f, _off )
    
         in C section,
    
             symbolic
             interface_s_ss(arg1, arg2)
                 symbolic        arg1
                 symbolic        arg2
               INTERFACE_MACRO:
                 XSINTERFACE_FUNC_BYOFFSET
                 XSINTERFACE_FUNC_BYOFFSET_set
               INTERFACE:
                 multiply divide
                 add subtract
    
         in XSUB section.
    
    
    
         The INCLUDE: Keyword
    
         This keyword can be used to pull other files into the XS
         module.  The other files may have XS code.  INCLUDE: can
         also be used to run a command to generate the XS code to be
         pulled into the module.
    
         The file Rpcb1.xsh contains our `rpcb_gettime()' function:
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t &timep
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
         The XS module can use INCLUDE: to pull that file into it.
    
             INCLUDE: Rpcb1.xsh
    
         If the parameters to the INCLUDE: keyword are followed by a
         pipe (`|') then the compiler will interpret the parameters
         as a command.
    
             INCLUDE: cat Rpcb1.xsh |
    
    
         The CASE: Keyword
    
         The CASE: keyword allows an XSUB to have multiple distinct
         parts with each part acting as a virtual XSUB.  CASE: is
         greedy and if it is used then all other XS keywords must be
         contained within a CASE:.  This means nothing may precede
         the first CASE: in the XSUB and anything following the last
         CASE: is included in that case.
    
         A CASE: might switch via a parameter of the XSUB, via the
         `ix' ALIAS:  variable (see the section on "The ALIAS:
         Keyword"), or maybe via the `items' variable (see the
         section on "Variable-length Parameter Lists").  The last
         CASE: becomes the default case if it is not associated with
         a conditional.  The following example shows CASE switched
         via `ix' with a function `rpcb_gettime()' having an alias
         `x_gettime()'.  When the function is called as
         `rpcb_gettime()' its parameters are the usual `(char *host,
         time_t *timep)', but when the function is called as
         `x_gettime()' its parameters are reversed, `(time_t *timep,
         char *host)'.
    
    
    
             long
             rpcb_gettime(a,b)
               CASE: ix == 1
                 ALIAS:
                   x_gettime = 1
                 INPUT:
                   # 'a' is timep, 'b' is host
                   char *b
                   time_t a = NO_INIT
                 CODE:
                        RETVAL = rpcb_gettime( b, &a );
                 OUTPUT:
                   a
                   RETVAL
               CASE:
                   # 'a' is host, 'b' is timep
                   char *a
                   time_t &b = NO_INIT
                 OUTPUT:
                   b
                   RETVAL
    
         That function can be called with either of the following
         statements.  Note the different argument lists.
    
                 $status = rpcb_gettime( $host, $timep );
    
                 $status = x_gettime( $timep, $host );
    
    
         The & Unary Operator
    
         The `&' unary operator in the INPUT: section is used to tell
         xsubpp that it should convert a Perl value to/from C using
         the C type to the left of `&', but provide a pointer to this
         value when the C function is called.
    
         This is useful to avoid a CODE: block for a C function which
         takes a parameter by reference.  Typically, the parameter
         should be not a pointer type (an `int' or `long' but not a
         `int*' or `long*').
    
         The following XSUB will generate incorrect C code.  The
         xsubpp compiler will turn this into code which calls
         `rpcb_gettime()' with parameters `(char *host, time_t
         timep)', but the real `rpcb_gettime()' wants the `timep'
         parameter to be of type `time_t*' rather than `time_t'.
    
    
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t timep
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
         That problem is corrected by using the `&' operator.  The
         xsubpp compiler will now turn this into code which calls
         `rpcb_gettime()' correctly with parameters `(char *host,
         time_t *timep)'.  It does this by carrying the `&' through,
         so the function call looks like `rpcb_gettime(host,
         &timep)'.
    
             bool_t
             rpcb_gettime(host,timep)
                   char *host
                   time_t &timep
                 OUTPUT:
                   timep
    
    
         Inserting Comments and C Preprocessor Directives
    
         C preprocessor directives are allowed within BOOT:, PREINIT:
         INIT:, CODE:, PPCODE:, and CLEANUP: blocks, as well as
         outside the functions.  Comments are allowed anywhere after
         the MODULE keyword.  The compiler will pass the preprocessor
         directives through untouched and will remove the commented
         lines.
    
         Comments can be added to XSUBs by placing a `#' as the first
         non-whitespace of a line.  Care should be taken to avoid
         making the comment look like a C preprocessor directive,
         lest it be interpreted as such.  The simplest way to prevent
         this is to put whitespace in front of the `#'.
    
         If you use preprocessor directives to choose one of two
         versions of a function, use
    
             #if ... version1
             #else /* ... version2  */
             #endif
    
         and not
    
             #if ... version1
             #endif
             #if ... version2
             #endif
    
         because otherwise xsubpp will believe that you made a
         duplicate definition of the function.  Also, put a blank
         line before the #else/#endif so it will not be seen as part
         of the function body.
    
         Using XS With C++
    
         If an XSUB name contains `::', it is considered to be a C++
         method.  The generated Perl function will assume that its
         first argument is an object pointer.  The object pointer
         will be stored in a variable called THIS.  The object should
         have been created by C++ with the new() function and should
         be blessed by Perl with the sv_setref_pv() macro.  The
         blessing of the object by Perl can be handled by a typemap.
         An example typemap is shown at the end of this section.
    
         If the return type of the XSUB includes `static', the method
         is considered to be a static method.  It will call the C++
         function using the class::method() syntax.  If the method is
         not static the function will be called using the THIS-
         >method() syntax.
    
         The next examples will use the following C++ class.
    
              class color {
                   public:
                   color();
                   ~color();
                   int blue();
                   void set_blue( int );
    
                   private:
                   int c_blue;
              };
    
         The XSUBs for the blue() and set_blue() methods are defined
         with the class name but the parameter for the object (THIS,
         or "self") is implicit and is not listed.
    
              int
              color::blue()
    
              void
              color::set_blue( val )
                   int val
    
         Both Perl functions will expect an object as the first
         parameter.  In the generated C++ code the object is called
         `THIS', and the method call will be performed on this
         object.  So in the C++ code the blue() and set_blue()
         methods will be called as this:
    
    
              RETVAL = THIS->blue();
    
              THIS->set_blue( val );
    
         You could also write a single get/set method using an
         optional argument:
    
              int
              color::blue( val = NO_INIT )
                  int val
                  PROTOTYPE $;$
                  CODE:
                      if (items > 1)
                          THIS->set_blue( val );
                      RETVAL = THIS->blue();
                  OUTPUT:
                      RETVAL
    
         If the function's name is DESTROY then the C++ `delete'
         function will be called and `THIS' will be given as its
         parameter.  The generated C++ code for
    
              void
              color::DESTROY()
    
         will look like this:
    
              color *THIS = ...; // Initialized as in typemap
    
              delete THIS;
    
         If the function's name is new then the C++ `new' function
         will be called to create a dynamic C++ object.  The XSUB
         will expect the class name, which will be kept in a variable
         called `CLASS', to be given as the first argument.
    
              color *
              color::new()
    
         The generated C++ code will call `new'.
    
              RETVAL = new color();
    
         The following is an example of a typemap that could be used
         for this C++ example.
    
             TYPEMAP
             color *             O_OBJECT
    
    
    
             OUTPUT
             # The Perl object is blessed into 'CLASS', which should be a
             # char* having the name of the package for the blessing.
             O_OBJECT
                 sv_setref_pv( $arg, CLASS, (void*)$var );
    
             INPUT
             O_OBJECT
                 if( sv_isobject($arg) && (SvTYPE(SvRV($arg)) == SVt_PVMG) )
                         $var = ($type)SvIV((SV*)SvRV( $arg ));
                 else{
                         warn( \"${Package}::$func_name() -- $var is not a blessed SV reference\" );
                         XSRETURN_UNDEF;
                 }
    
    
         Interface Strategy
    
         When designing an interface between Perl and a C library a
         straight translation from C to XS (such as created by `h2xs
         -x') is often sufficient.  However, sometimes the interface
         will look very C-like and occasionally nonintuitive,
         especially when the C function modifies one of its
         parameters, or returns failure inband (as in "negative
         return values mean failure").  In cases where the programmer
         wishes to create a more Perl-like interface the following
         strategy may help to identify the more critical parts of the
         interface.
    
         Identify the C functions with input/output or output
         parameters.  The XSUBs for these functions may be able to
         return lists to Perl.
    
         Identify the C functions which use some inband info as an
         indication of failure.  They may be candidates to return
         undef or an empty list in case of failure.  If the failure
         may be detected without a call to the C function, you may
         want to use an INIT: section to report the failure.  For
         failures detectable after the C function returns one may
         want to use a CLEANUP: section to process the failure.  In
         more complicated cases use CODE: or PPCODE: sections.
    
         If many functions use the same failure indication based on
         the return value, you may want to create a special typedef
         to handle this situation.  Put
    
           typedef int negative_is_failure;
    
         near the beginning of XS file, and create an OUTPUT typemap
         entry for `negative_is_failure' which converts negative
         values to `undef', or maybe croak()s.  After this the return
         value of type `negative_is_failure' will create more Perl-
         like interface.
    
         Identify which values are used by only the C and XSUB
         functions themselves, say, when a parameter to a function
         should be a contents of a global variable.  If Perl does not
         need to access the contents of the value then it may not be
         necessary to provide a translation for that value from C to
         Perl.
    
         Identify the pointers in the C function parameter lists and
         return values.  Some pointers may be used to implement
         input/output or output parameters, they can be handled in XS
         with the `&' unary operator, and, possibly, using the
         NO_INIT keyword.  Some others will require handling of types
         like `int *', and one needs to decide what a useful Perl
         translation will do in such a case.  When the semantic is
         clear, it is advisable to put the translation into a typemap
         file.
    
         Identify the structures used by the C functions.  In many
         cases it may be helpful to use the T_PTROBJ typemap for
         these structures so they can be manipulated by Perl as
         blessed objects.  (This is handled automatically by `h2xs
         -x'.)
    
         If the same C type is used in several different contexts
         which require different translations, `typedef' several new
         types mapped to this C type, and create separate typemap
         entries for these new types.  Use these types in
         declarations of return type and parameters to XSUBs.
    
         Perl Objects And C Structures
    
         When dealing with C structures one should select either
         T_PTROBJ or T_PTRREF for the XS type.  Both types are
         designed to handle pointers to complex objects.  The
         T_PTRREF type will allow the Perl object to be unblessed
         while the T_PTROBJ type requires that the object be blessed.
         By using T_PTROBJ one can achieve a form of type-checking
         because the XSUB will attempt to verify that the Perl object
         is of the expected type.
    
         The following XS code shows the getnetconfigent() function
         which is used with ONC+ TIRPC.  The getnetconfigent()
         function will return a pointer to a C structure and has the
         C prototype shown below.  The example will demonstrate how
         the C pointer will become a Perl reference.  Perl will
         consider this reference to be a pointer to a blessed object
         and will attempt to call a destructor for the object.  A
         destructor will be provided in the XS source to free the
         memory used by getnetconfigent().  Destructors in XS can be
         created by specifying an XSUB function whose name ends with
         the word DESTROY.  XS destructors can be used to free memory
         which may have been malloc'd by another XSUB.
    
              struct netconfig *getnetconfigent(const char *netid);
    
         A `typedef' will be created for `struct netconfig'.  The
         Perl object will be blessed in a class matching the name of
         the C type, with the tag `Ptr' appended, and the name should
         not have embedded spaces if it will be a Perl package name.
         The destructor will be placed in a class corresponding to
         the class of the object and the PREFIX keyword will be used
         to trim the name to the word DESTROY as Perl will expect.
    
              typedef struct netconfig Netconfig;
    
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = RPC
    
              Netconfig *
              getnetconfigent(netid)
                   char *netid
    
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = NetconfigPtr  PREFIX = rpcb_
    
              void
              rpcb_DESTROY(netconf)
                   Netconfig *netconf
                 CODE:
                   printf("Now in NetconfigPtr::DESTROY\n");
                   free( netconf );
    
         This example requires the following typemap entry.  Consult
         the typemap section for more information about adding new
         typemaps for an extension.
    
              TYPEMAP
              Netconfig *  T_PTROBJ
    
         This example will be used with the following Perl
         statements.
    
              use RPC;
              $netconf = getnetconfigent("udp");
    
         When Perl destroys the object referenced by $netconf it will
         send the object to the supplied XSUB DESTROY function.  Perl
         cannot determine, and does not care, that this object is a C
         struct and not a Perl object.  In this sense, there is no
         difference between the object created by the
         getnetconfigent() XSUB and an object created by a normal
         Perl subroutine.
    
    
         The Typemap
    
         The typemap is a collection of code fragments which are used
         by the xsubpp compiler to map C function parameters and
         values to Perl values.  The typemap file may consist of
         three sections labeled `TYPEMAP', `INPUT', and `OUTPUT'.  An
         unlabelled initial section is assumed to be a `TYPEMAP'
         section.  The INPUT section tells the compiler how to
         translate Perl values into variables of certain C types.
         The OUTPUT section tells the compiler how to translate the
         values from certain C types into values Perl can understand.
         The TYPEMAP section tells the compiler which of the INPUT
         and OUTPUT code fragments should be used to map a given C
         type to a Perl value.  The section labels `TYPEMAP',
         `INPUT', or `OUTPUT' must begin in the first column on a
         line by themselves, and must be in uppercase.
    
         The default typemap in the `ext' directory of the Perl
         source contains many useful types which can be used by Perl
         extensions.  Some extensions define additional typemaps
         which they keep in their own directory.  These additional
         typemaps may reference INPUT and OUTPUT maps in the main
         typemap.  The xsubpp compiler will allow the extension's own
         typemap to override any mappings which are in the default
         typemap.
    
         Most extensions which require a custom typemap will need
         only the TYPEMAP section of the typemap file.  The custom
         typemap used in the getnetconfigent() example shown earlier
         demonstrates what may be the typical use of extension
         typemaps.  That typemap is used to equate a C structure with
         the T_PTROBJ typemap.  The typemap used by getnetconfigent()
         is shown here.  Note that the C type is separated from the
         XS type with a tab and that the C unary operator `*' is
         considered to be a part of the C type name.
    
                 TYPEMAP
                 Netconfig *<tab>T_PTROBJ
    
         Here's a more complicated example: suppose that you wanted
         `struct netconfig' to be blessed into the class
         `Net::Config'.  One way to do this is to use underscores (_)
         to separate package names, as follows:
    
                 typedef struct netconfig * Net_Config;
    
         And then provide a typemap entry `T_PTROBJ_SPECIAL' that
         maps underscores to double-colons (::), and declare
         `Net_Config' to be of that type:
    
                 TYPEMAP
                 Net_Config      T_PTROBJ_SPECIAL
                 INPUT
                 T_PTROBJ_SPECIAL
                         if (sv_derived_from($arg, \"${(my $ntt=$ntype)=~s/_/::/g;\$ntt}\")) {
                                 IV tmp = SvIV((SV*)SvRV($arg));
                         $var = ($type) tmp;
                         }
                         else
                                 croak(\"$var is not of type ${(my $ntt=$ntype)=~s/_/::/g;\$ntt}\")
    
                 OUTPUT
                 T_PTROBJ_SPECIAL
                         sv_setref_pv($arg, \"${(my $ntt=$ntype)=~s/_/::/g;\$ntt}\",
                         (void*)$var);
    
         The INPUT and OUTPUT sections substitute underscores for
         double-colons on the fly, giving the desired effect.  This
         example demonstrates some of the power and versatility of
         the typemap facility.
    
    
    

    EXAMPLES

         File `RPC.xs': Interface to some ONC+ RPC bind library
         functions.
    
              #include "EXTERN.h"
              #include "perl.h"
              #include "XSUB.h"
    
              #include <rpc/rpc.h>
    
              typedef struct netconfig Netconfig;
    
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = RPC
    
              SV *
              rpcb_gettime(host="localhost")
                   char *host
                 PREINIT:
                   time_t  timep;
                 CODE:
                   ST(0) = sv_newmortal();
                   if( rpcb_gettime( host, &timep ) )
                        sv_setnv( ST(0), (double)timep );
    
              Netconfig *
              getnetconfigent(netid="udp")
                   char *netid
    
              MODULE = RPC  PACKAGE = NetconfigPtr  PREFIX = rpcb_
    
    
    
              void
              rpcb_DESTROY(netconf)
                   Netconfig *netconf
                 CODE:
                   printf("NetconfigPtr::DESTROY\n");
                   free( netconf );
    
         File `typemap': Custom typemap for RPC.xs.
    
              TYPEMAP
              Netconfig *  T_PTROBJ
    
         File `RPC.pm': Perl module for the RPC extension.
    
              package RPC;
    
              require Exporter;
              require DynaLoader;
              @ISA = qw(Exporter DynaLoader);
              @EXPORT = qw(rpcb_gettime getnetconfigent);
    
              bootstrap RPC;
              1;
    
         File `rpctest.pl': Perl test program for the RPC extension.
    
              use RPC;
    
              $netconf = getnetconfigent();
              $a = rpcb_gettime();
              print "time = $a\n";
              print "netconf = $netconf\n";
    
              $netconf = getnetconfigent("tcp");
              $a = rpcb_gettime("poplar");
              print "time = $a\n";
              print "netconf = $netconf\n";
    
    
    
    

    XS VERSION

         This document covers features supported by `xsubpp' 1.935.
    
    
    

    AUTHOR

         Originally written by Dean Roehrich <roehrich@cray.com>.
    
         Maintained since 1996 by The Perl Porters
         <perlbug@perl.com>.
    
    
    
    


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