Info about the  libwww-perl@ics.uci.edu  mailing list
         =====================================================

Introduction
============

This mailing list has been established for technical discussion about
libwww-perl, including problem reports, interim fixes, suggestions
for features, and contributions. The mailing list address is 

       libwww-perl@ics.uci.edu

and administrivia [including (un)subscribe requests] should be sent to 

       libwww-perl-request@ics.uci.edu

There is also a Hypermail Archive of the mailing list at

       <http://www.ics.uci.edu/pub/websoft/libwww-perl/archive/>


What is libwww-perl?
====================

libwww-perl is a library of Perl packages which provides a simple
and consistent programming interface (client library) to the World-Wide Web. 

There are actually two versions of libwww-perl: one for Perl4, and one
for Perl5.  Both have a similar architecture, related to that of the CERN
Library of Common Code (now maintained by W3C <http://www.w3.org/>).

The Perl4 version is maintained by Roy Fielding, and was the basis for
tools such as MOMspider. This version and much more information about
its libraries can be found at:

       <http://www.ics.uci.edu/pub/websoft/libwww-perl/>
        <ftp://www.ics.uci.edu/pub/websoft/libwww-perl/>

The Perl5 version is maintained by Gisle Aas <aas@oslonett.no>, and is
a complete rewrite for Perl5: the code is organised in Modules,
provides an Object Oriented API, is updated for the latest HTTP and
URL specification, and offers some extended functionality.

The Perl5 version is in beta, and is available from:

       <http://www.oslonett.no/home/aas/perl/www/>


The purpose of this mailing list
================================

This mailing list provides a forum for all developers to communicate
their ideas, problems, suggestions, and contributions with each other
in a timely fashion.

Both versions of libwww-perl are discussed, so it is helpful to
identify the version in the subject line.

What is appropriate discussion for this mailing list?
=====================================================

The first priority is problem reports!  If anyone finds a bug (or what
they think is a bug), report it to the list so that we can all (or at
least all those affected by the bug) examine and discuss it.  Also,
once a solution (or many solutions) is found, send that to the list as
well so that all the others can stop looking.

The second priority is new contributions (i.e. stuff that you think
should be added to the "official" release).  All contributed source
code must be either Public Domain or distributable under the Artistic
License.  Copyright is retained by the original author (as is always
true).  Where appropriate, attempts are made to identify the original
author both in the code and the release documentation.

Contributions of documentation are also strongly encouraged -- this
would be a great project for a Technical Writing class.  ;-)

Note that not all contributions will make it into the "official"
release.  Contributed-but-not-released software is available on the
Hypermail Archive (see above).

Also, feel free to send useful information which you DO NOT want to be
included in the "official" release -- just be sure to mark them as such.

If you are working on a project of general usefulness, let everyone else
know about it.  Sharing and exchanging ideas is the best way to build a
quality product, and the time lost talking about it is almost always
regained through the insight of others and the additional insight you
yourself gain by describing an idea such that others can understand it.

Also, if you have a need for some service which is not provided by the
library, let us all know -- someone may be looking for a new project
and is just lacking the initial impetus.

Ah, and finally, never forget to keep your sense of humor.  If we say
something which sounds a bit odd, you can probably attribute it to the
strange customs of our native country and not any intention to offend.
I'm half-Yank (USA) and half-Kiwi (NZ) myself, so I'm allowed to say
twice as many odd things.  Don't forget that others on this mailing list
are from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, 
the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
the UK, ...

 ....Roy T. Fielding  Department of ICS, University of California, Irvine USA
                      (fielding@ics.uci.edu) (libwww-perl-request@ics.uci.edu)
                      <http://www.ics.uci.edu/~fielding/>