B::Xref(3p) Perl Programmers Reference Guide B::Xref(3p)

B::Xref(3p) Perl Programmers Reference Guide B::Xref(3p) #

B::Xref(3p) Perl Programmers Reference Guide B::Xref(3p)

NNAAMMEE #

 B::Xref - Generates cross reference reports for Perl programs

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS #

 perl -MO=Xref[,OPTIONS] foo.pl

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN #

 The B::Xref module is used to generate a cross reference listing of all
 definitions and uses of variables, subroutines and formats in a Perl
 program.  It is implemented as a backend for the Perl compiler.

 The report generated is in the following format:

     File filename1
       Subroutine subname1
         Package package1
           object1        line numbers
           object2        line numbers
           ...
         Package package2
         ...

 Each FFiillee section reports on a single file. Each SSuubbrroouuttiinnee section
 reports on a single subroutine apart from the special cases
 "(definitions)" and "(main)". These report, respectively, on subroutine
 definitions found by the initial symbol table walk and on the main part
 of the program or module external to all subroutines.

 The report is then grouped by the PPaacckkaaggee of each variable, subroutine or
 format with the special case "(lexicals)" meaning lexical variables. Each
 oobbjjeecctt name (implicitly qualified by its containing PPaacckkaaggee) includes its
 type character(s) at the beginning where possible. Lexical variables are
 easier to track and even included dereferencing information where
 possible.

 The "line numbers" are a comma separated list of line numbers (some
 preceded by code letters) where that object is used in some way.  Simple
 uses aren't preceded by a code letter. Introductions (such as where a
 lexical is first defined with "my") are indicated with the letter "i".
 Subroutine and method calls are indicated by the character "&".
 Subroutine definitions are indicated by "s" and format definitions by
 "f".

 For instance, here's part of the report from the _p_o_d_2_m_a_n program that
 comes with Perl:

   Subroutine clear_noremap
     Package (lexical)
       $ready_to_print   i1069, 1079
     Package main
       $&                1086
       $.                1086
       $0                1086
       $1                1087
       $2                1085, 1085
       $3                1085, 1085

$ARGV 1086 #

       %HTML_Escapes     1085, 1085

 This shows the variables used in the subroutine "clear_noremap".  The
 variable $ready_to_print is a mmyy(()) (lexical) variable, iintroduced (first
 declared with mmyy(())) on line 1069, and used on line 1079.  The variable $&
 from the main package is used on 1086, and so on.

 A line number may be prefixed by a single letter:

 i   Lexical variable introduced (declared with mmyy(())) for the first time.

 &   Subroutine or method call.

 s   Subroutine defined.

 r   Format defined.

 The most useful option the cross referencer has is to save the report to
 a separate file.  For instance, to save the report on _m_y_p_e_r_l_p_r_o_g_r_a_m to
 the file _r_e_p_o_r_t:

   $ perl -MO=Xref,-oreport myperlprogram

OOPPTTIIOONNSS #

 Option words are separated by commas (not whitespace) and follow the
 usual conventions of compiler backend options.

 "-oFILENAME"
         Directs output to "FILENAME" instead of standard output.

 "-r"    Raw output. Instead of producing a human-readable report, outputs
         a line in machine-readable form for each definition/use of a
         variable/sub/format.

 "-d"    Don't output the "(definitions)" sections.

 "-D[tO]"
         (Internal) debug options, probably only useful if "-r" included.
         The "t" option prints the object on the top of the stack as it's
         being tracked. The "O" option prints each operator as it's being
         processed in the execution order of the program.

BBUUGGSS #

 Non-lexical variables are quite difficult to track through a program.
 Sometimes the type of a non-lexical variable's use is impossible to
 determine. Introductions of non-lexical non-scalars don't seem to be
 reported properly.

AAUUTTHHOORR #

 Malcolm Beattie, mbeattie@sable.ox.ac.uk.

perl v5.36.3 2019-02-13 B::Xref(3p)