Re: Encode::decode_utf8 and references

Sam,

On Jun 18, 2006, at 04:34 , Sam Tregar wrote:
> Hello all.  I'm maintaining a Perl app which relies on a possibly
> incorrect behavior in Encode::decode_utf8 - references are expected to
> pass through unmangled.  This worked fine until a recent upgrade.
> Observe Encode v2.08 with Perl v5.6.1:
>
>   $ perl -MEncode -MData::Dumper -e \
>       'my $ref = Encode::decode_utf8({ foo => 1}); print Dumper 
> ($ref);'
>   $VAR1 = {
>             'foo' => 1
>           };

I can't help wondering how you got Encode to install.

This is what you'd see when you tried perl Makefile.PL when you tried  
to do so.

% ~/perl562/bin/perl Makefile.PL
Perl v5.7.3 required--this is only v5.6.2, stopped at Makefile.PL  
line 1.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at Makefile.PL line 1.


> However, Encode v2.18 with Perl v5.6.1 is not so forgiving:
>
>   $ perl -MEncode -MData::Dumper -e \
>       'my $ref = Encode::decode_utf8({ foo => 1}); print Dumper 
> ($ref);'
>   $VAR1 = 'HASH(0x9932180)';
>
> So, is this a bug in Encode or a bug in my app?  I'm leaning towards
> the latter but I thought I'd check with you before I started trying
> to fix it (no tests, argh!).  Aside from "don't do that", can you
> suggest a fix?
>
> Thanks,
> -sam

0th of all, Encode requires Perl 5.8 and above (Perl 5.7.3 to be more  
exact but it's a developer version).  I have no idea what you use  
Encode.  All I know is I cannot support your case.

Dan the Maintainer Thereof