Linux::KernelSort(3pm)					User Contributed Perl Documentation				    Linux::KernelSort(3pm)

NAME

       Linux::KernelSort - Perl extension for sorting and comparing Linux kernel versions.  The expected kernel version naming convention is the
       same naming convetion demonstrated by http://www.kernel.org.  NOTE:  Currently, only the 2.6.x series of kernels (including -rc's, -git's,
       and -mm's) are properly evaluated.

SYNOPSIS

	 use Linux::KernelSort;
	 my $kernel = new Linux::KernelSort;

	 my $ret;
	 my $version1 = "2.6.19";
	 my $version2 = "2.6.19-rc2-git7";
	 $ret = $kernel->compare($version1, $version2);

	 if ($ret == 0) {
	   print "$version1 and $version2 are the same version
";
	 } elsif ($ret > 0) {
	   print "$version1 is newer than $version2
";
	 } else {
	   print "$version1 is older than $version2
";
	 }

	 my @kernel_list = ( '2.6.15',
			     '2.6.18',
			     '2.6.18-rc2',
			     '2.6.18-rc2-git2',
			     '2.6.18-mm1',
			     '2.6.18-rc2-mm1' );

	 my @sorted_list = $kernel->sort(@kernel_list);

	 print join( ', ', @sorted_list );

DESCRIPTION

       Linux::KernelSort is intended to sort a list of kernel versions into ascending order.  It also provides the capability to compare two ker-
       nel versions and determine if one version is newer, older, or the same as the other version.

FUNCTIONS

       version_check() Purpose:  Verify the version is valid and follows the proper naming convention demonstrated by http://www.kernel.org Input:
       A string containing the kernel version Return:	0 if version is valid 1 if version is invalid

       rank()

	   Purpose:  Generate a ranking for a given kernel version
	   Input:    A string containing the kernel version which
		     follows the proper naming convention demonstrated
		     by http://www.kernel.org
	   Return:   Kernel ranking

       compare()

	   Purpose:  Compare two kernel versions
	   Input:    Strings ($kernel1, $kernel2) each containing a
		     kernel version which follows the proper naming
		     conventaion demonstrated by http://www.kernel.org
	   Return   -1 if $kernel1 < $kernel2  (ie $kernel1 is older than $kernel2)
		     0 if $kernel1 == $kernel2 (ie $kernel1 is the same version as $kernel2)
		     1 if $kernel1 > $kernel2  (ie $kernel1 is newer than $kernel2)

       sort()

	   Purpose:  Sort a list of kernel versions in ascending order.
		     Uses shell sort algorithm.
	   Input:    Array of strings containing kernel versions which
		     follows the proper naming convention demonstrated
		     by http://www.kernel.org
	   Return:   Sorted array

AUTHOR

       Leann Ogasawara <lt>ogasawara@osdl.org<gt>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

       Linux-KernelSort is Copyright (c) 2006, by Leann Ogasawara.  All rights reserved. You may distribute this code under the terms of either
       the GNU General Public License or the Artistic License, as specified in the Perl README file.

perl v5.8.8							    2008-02-23						    Linux::KernelSort(3pm)