README

NAME
    Class::PseudoHash - Emulates Pseudo-Hash behaviour via overload

VERSION
    This document describes version 1.10 of Class::PseudoHash, released
    October 14, 2007.

SYNOPSIS
        use Class::PseudoHash;

        my @args = ([qw/key1 key2 key3 key4/], [1..10]);
        my $ref1 = fields::phash(@args);            # phash() override
        my $ref2 = Class::PseudoHash->new(@args);   # constructor syntax

DESCRIPTION
    Due to its impact on overall performance of ordinary hashes,
    pseudo-hashes are deprecated in Perl 5.8.

    As of Perl 5.10, pseudo-hashes have been removed from Perl, replaced by
    restricted hashes provided by Hash::Util. Additionally, Perl 5.10 no
    longer supports the "fields::phash()" API.

    Although "Pseudo-hashes: Using an array as a hash" in perlref recommends
    against depending on the underlying implementation (i.e. using the first
    array element as hash indice), there are undoubtly many legacy codebase
    still depending on pseudohashes; elimination of pseudo-hashes would
    therefore require a massive rewrite of their programs.

    Back in 2002, as one of the primary victims, I tried to devise a drop-in
    solution that could emulate exactly the same semantic of pseudo-hashes,
    thus keeping all my legacy code intact. So "Class::PseudoHash" was born.

    Hence, if your code use the preferred "fields::phash()" function, just
    write:

        use fields;
        use Class::PseudoHash;

    then everything will work like before. If you are creating pseudo-hashes
    by hand ("[{}]" anyone?), just write this instead:

        $ref = Class::PseudoHash->new;

    and use the returned object in whatever way you like.

NOTES
    If you set $Class::PseudoHash::FixedKeys to a false value and tries to
    access a non-existent hash key, then a new pseudo-hash entry will be
    created silently. This is most useful if you're already using untyped
    pseudo-hashes, and don't want the compile-time checking feature.

    Compile-time validating of keys is not possible with this module, for
    obvious reasons. Also, the performance will not be as fast as typed
    pseudo-hashes (but generally faster than untyped ones).

SEE ALSO
    fields, "Pseudo-hashes: Using an array as a hash" in perlref

AUTHORS
    Audrey Tang <cpan@audreyt.org>

COPYRIGHT
    Copyright 2001, 2002, 2007 by Audrey Tang <cpan@audreyt.org>.

    This software is released under the MIT license cited below.

  The "MIT" License
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    copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
    "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including
    without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish,
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    permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to
    the following conditions:

    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
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    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
    OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
    MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
    IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
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