NAME

CBOR::Free - Fast CBOR for everyone

SYNOPSIS

    $cbor = CBOR::Free::encode( $scalar_or_ar_or_hr );

    $thing = CBOR::Free::decode( $cbor )

    my $tagged = CBOR::Free::tag( 1, '2019-01-02T00:01:02Z' );

DESCRIPTION

This library implements CBOR via XS under a license that permits commercial usage with no “strings attached”.

STATUS

This distribution is an experimental effort.

Note that this distribution’s interface can still change. If you decide to use CBOR::Free in your project, please always check the changelog before upgrading.

FUNCTIONS

$cbor = encode( $DATA )

Encodes a data structure or non-reference scalar to CBOR. The encoder recognizes and encodes integers, floats, binary and UTF-8 strings, array and hash references, CBOR::Free::Tagged instances, Types::Serialiser booleans, and undef (encoded as null).

The encoder currently does not handle any other blessed references.

Notes on mapping Perl to CBOR:

The internal state of a defined Perl scalar (e.g., whether it’s an integer, float, binary string, or UTF-8 string) determines its CBOR encoding.

Types::Serialiser booleans are encoded as CBOR booleans. Perl undef is encoded as CBOR null. (NB: No Perl value encodes as CBOR undefined.)

Instances of CBOR::Free::Tagged are encoded as tagged values.

An error is thrown on excess recursion or an unrecognized object.

$data = decode( $CBOR )

Decodes a data structure from CBOR. Errors are thrown to indicate invalid CBOR. A warning is thrown if $CBOR is longer than is needed for $data.

Notes on mapping CBOR to Perl:

• CBOR UTF-8 strings become Perl UTF-8 strings. CBOR binary strings become Perl binary strings. (This may become configurable later.)

  Note that invalid UTF-8 in a CBOR UTF-8 string is considered invalid input and will thus prompt a thrown exception.

• CBOR booleans become the corresponding Types::Serialiser values. Both CBOR null and undefined become Perl undef.

• Tags are IGNORED for now. (This may become configurable later.)

$obj = tag( $NUMBER, $DATA )

Tags an item for encoding so that its CBOR encoding will preserve the tag number. (Include $obj, not $DATA, in the data structure that encode() receives.)

BOOLEANS

CBOR::Free::true(), CBOR::Free::false(), $CBOR::Free::true, and $CBOR::Free::false are defined as convenience aliases for the equivalent Types::Serialiser values.

ERROR HANDLING

Most errors are represented via instances of subclasses of CBOR::Free::X.

TODO

• Add canonical encode().

• Make it faster. On some platforms (e.g., Linux) it appears to be faster than JSON::XS but not quite as fast as CBOR::XS; on others (e.g., macOS), it’s slower than both.

AUTHOR

Gasper Software Consulting (FELIPE)

LICENSE

This code is licensed under the same license as Perl itself.

SEE ALSO

CBOR::XS is an older, GPL-licensed CBOR module. It implements some behaviors around CBOR tagging that you might find useful.

cpanm CBOR::Free

perl -MCPAN -e shell
install CBOR::Free