RE: [code-review] Tie::Hash::Expire

> 	Yesterday I uploaded the first version of my first CPAN module,=20
> Tie::Hash::Expire, a package providing hash keys that expire=20
> and cease to exist after a user-set period.  I would be much
> obliged if anyone here would take a look.

A couple of comments, including a request for clarification -- and =
Japhy, welcome aboard. :)

1) My first thought was "Why not use an alarm?" After I thought about it =
a little, I wanted to pat you on the back for not falling into that =
trap. :)

2) I agree with a previous post: the default behavior should be that =
without an expiration period, keys should not expire.

3) I'd tend to use a more oo-ish approach, and put the data in a normal =
hash. For example
    $my_tied_hash{foo} =3D 1; # $internal_hash_entry{foo} =3D { =
_data=3D>1, _expires=3D>time() };
   or more likely
    $my_tied_hash{foo} =3D 1; # $internal_hash_entry{foo} =3D [ 1, =
time() ];

4) I'd also recommend a custom timing function:
    $tied_hash->set(foo =3D> 17); # THIS entry expires in 17 seconds.
   which might be implemented more as
    $tied_hash->set(foo =3D> 17); # $internal_hash_entry{foo} =3D [ 1, =
time(), 17 ];
   leaving other entries as
    $my_tied_hash{foo} =3D 1; # $internal_hash_entry{foo} =3D [ 1, =
time(), $default ];

Depending on how elaborate you wanted to get, you might even add some =
convenience shortcuts:

   use Tie::Hash::Expire default =3D> 10, shortcuts =3D> 'all', reqs =
=3D> [ qw( Time::HiRes ) ];
   $h =3D tie %h, Tie::Hash::Expire;

   $h{foo} =3D 1;        # expires in the default 10 seconds;
   $h->set(bar =3D> 17); # expires in 17 seconds
   # for the precise-minded: expires in 02:13:41.11
   $h->set(baz =3D> hours(2)+minutes(13)+seconds(41)+fracsec(.11) ); # =
or somesuch

You might even include days, weeks, months, etc. That may work better =
with the Exporter, but I like the idea of being able to set the =
expiration default in the use() statement.=20

Obviously, I'm just tossing out ideas. Caveat auditor. :)

Paul



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