Perl for Guardian
What's New in This Version

This file describes the changes made to the Perl for Guardian port since
it was last uploaded (approximately April, 1998).

1.   We changed the brain-dead way library files are handled.

     Instead of having to create a DEFINE for each file in the library, we
     use SEARCH defines with sub-volumes.  Thus, it is possible to make
     "PM" files available by simply adding them to the appropriate sub-volume.

     See the LIBRARIES section in the readme file for details.

2.   We've added an extension to support generating MD5 signatures.  See
     item 10 of "Stuff that Appears to Work" in the README file.

3.   We've modified the MAKE macro (in PERLMNT) to look for NMC and, if
     present, will use it instead of C.  We've seen approximately a 15%
     (plus or minus) improvement between accelerated CISC and native.

     The binary distribution is the accerlated CISC version.

     See the section NMC NOTES in the readme file for details.

4.   Created a library function called "backtick" which emulates (to some
     extent) the `cmd` functionality.  See "stuff that works", item 11 of
     "Stuff that Appears to Work" in the README file for details.

5.   We used PAK to generate a self-extracting archive instead of the
     archive/de-archive software included with the last distribution.

     Because the distribution uses a self-extracting archive, you won't
     need UNPAK.  However, if you want to use them for other things,
     PAK/UNPAK is available from the ITUG library.

6.   In order to support the "BACKTICK" we modified the underlying open
     routines to enable receipt of "system messages" on $RECEIVE.  The
     underlying read routines have been modified to throw system messages
     away.

     **NOTE:  Even though we are accepting system messages on $RECEIVE,
     PERL scripts will never see them.

     See PERLSRC.GUARDC for details.


