use Perl

• Best way to do it? (Score:2)

  by Matts (1087)

  I've often wanted to know when people install one of my modules. Do you have a suggestion of a good way to do it? I was thinking of something like:

  local $SIG{ALARM} = sub { die "alarm" };
  alarm(5);
  print "[This question will timeout in 5 seconds and default to 'No']\n";
  my $val = eval { prompt("Send message to module author that you installed $module?", "Y") };
  $val = "N" if $@;
  if ($val =~ /^Y/i) {
       send_udp_packet_to_sergeant_dot_org();
  }

  Would that be reasonable?
  • Re: (Score:1)

    by tsee (4409)

    It might be reasonable if alarm() was portable!
    
    On the other hand, tracking users is probably as futile as web hit counters.
    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Matts (1087)

      I thought the non-portability of alarm() was a solved problem? At least for simple cases like reading STDIN.
      • Re:Best way to do it? (Score:1)

        by tsee (4409) <reversethis-{gro.napc} {ta} {relleums}> on 2006.09.13 11:34 (#50005) Homepage Journal

        Well, as far as I know, alarm() doesn't work on win32. But I may well be wrong since I haven't tried it for some time.

        Reply to This

        Parent

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Matts (1087)

          Works on cygwin. Not on Strawberry. Ah well, back to the drawing board.