NAME

App::Packer::Backend - backend interface for App::Packer

DESCRIPTION

There is no module named App::Packer::Backend; this is just an abstract interface all modules wishing to work as backends to App::Packer must conform to.

Backend objects take as input a list of files to be stored inside an executable, and write the executable.

RETURN VALUES

All methods return a false value on failure, unless otherwise specified.

METHODS

Available methods.

new

  my $backend = App::Packer::Backend->new();

Creates a new Backend instance. It must be possible to call the constructor without any parameter.

set_files

  $backend->set_files( $data );

Sets the files that are to be stored in the packed executable; each call to this method discards any previous information. File information is of the form: type => value where value is either a reference to file_info or a reference to an array of file_info.

Each file_info has this structure:

  { file     => full_path_to_file,
    store_as => path_inside_the_app
    used_by  => [ file_info1, file_info2, ... ],
    ... }

Valid file types are currently

• main - the main script file; its value is a reference to a single file_info.

• modules - modules used by the script

• autload - autoload files

• data - arbitrary files

• shared - dynamic libraries, such as DLL/so files

write

  $backend->write( 'file.exe' );

Write the executable file. This method should not change the provided file name in any way.

set_options

  $backend->set_options( name => value, ... );

Set backend-dependent options; this is a list of name => value pairs (if the value is not interesting, it should be 0); standard options are:

• verbose => numeric value

  Be verbose; the numeric value indicates verbosity level (0 = quiet).