This is the README file for "Alias", the Perl module
that performs aliasing services.

This is Version 2.0.

Perl Version 5.001m or later is required.

You may also need MakeMaker Ver. 5.09 or later (check the
file $PERLLIB/ExtUtils/MakeMaker.pm).

You may find this module useful if you:

   * are tired of dereferencing hash-based object attributes

   * wish perl could make-do with fewer $, -> and {} things 

   * are a little scared of using typeglobs

   * want the freedom to put what you want, when you want in
     the symbol table without having to deal with wierd syntax

   * need to use constants in your program and you don't
     trust yourself from changing $PI 

This release has the all-new C<attr> function that installs a
whole hash on the symbol table with implicit localization. This
allows you to access object attributes without having to deref the
object everytime, as in most other OO languages.

The C<attr> functionality may belong in the perl core, but I am
making it available as part of this module for folks to see what
it "feels like" to have it first.

It would be interesting to benchmark how much less/more efficient 
C<attr> is when compared to regular hash access of object 
attributes under various degrees of use.

Comments are always very welcome.

 - Sarathy.
   gsar@umich.edu

-------------------
Installation is via the standard mantra.
The distribution assumes you have dynamic linking available. Type

      perl Makefile.PL
      make
      make test

If the tests pass, you can type

      make install

to install the module.

Look for newer versions of this module on CPAN.  The master site for
CPAN currently is:

   ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/languages/perl/CPAN

There may be many others closer to your location.