NAME
   Clone::PP - Recursively copy Perl datatypes

SYNOPSIS
     use Clone::PP qw(clone);

     $item = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'move' => [ 'zig', 'zag' ]  };
     $copy = clone( $item );

     $item = [ 'alpha', 'beta', { 'gamma' => 'vlissides' } ];
     $copy = clone( $item );

     $item = Foo->new();
     $copy = clone( $item );

   Or as an object method:

     require Clone::PP;
     push @Foo::ISA, 'Clone::PP';

     $item = Foo->new();
     $copy = $item->clone();

DESCRIPTION
   This module provides a general-purpose clone function to make deep
   copies of Perl data structures. It calls itself recursively to copy
   nested hash, array, scalar and reference types, including tied variables
   and objects.

   The clone() function takes a scalar argument to copy. To duplicate
   arrays or hashes, pass them in by reference:

     my $copy = clone(\@array);    my @copy = @{ clone(\@array) };
     my $copy = clone(\%hash);     my %copy = %{ clone(\%hash) };

   The clone() function also accepts an optional second parameter that can
   be used to limit the depth of the copy. If you pass a limit of 0, clone
   will return the same value you supplied; for a limit of 1, a shallow
   copy is constructed; for a limit of 2, two layers of copying are done,
   and so on.

     my $shallow_copy = clone( $item, 1 );

   To allow objects to intervene in the way they are copied, the clone()
   function checks for a couple of optional methods. If an object provides
   a method named "clone_self", it is called and the result returned
   without further processing. Alternately, if an object provides a method
   named "clone_init", it is called on the copied object before it is
   returned.

BUGS
   Some data types, such as globs, regexes, and code refs, are always
   copied shallowly.

   References to hash elements are not properly duplicated. (This is why
   two tests in t/dclone.t that are marked "todo".) For example, the
   following test should succeed but does not:

     my $hash = { foo => 1 };
     $hash->{bar} = \{ $hash->{foo} };
     my $copy = clone( \%hash );
     $hash->{foo} = 2;
     $copy->{foo} = 2;
     ok( $hash->{bar} == $copy->{bar} );

   To report bugs via the CPAN web tracking system, go to
   "http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/Bugs.html?Dist=Clone-PP" or send mail to
   "Dist=Clone-PP#rt.cpan.org", replacing "#" with "@".

SEE ALSO
   For a faster implementation in XS, see the clone entry in the Clone
   manpage, the clone entry in the Util manpage, or <Storable/dclone>.

CREDITS AND COPYRIGHT
   Developed by Matthew Simon Cavalletto at Evolution Softworks. More free
   Perl software is available at "www.evoscript.org".

   Copyright 2003 Matthew Simon Cavalletto. You may contact the author
   directly at "[email protected]" or "[email protected]".

   Code initially derived from Ref.pm. Portions Copyright 1994 David Muir
   Sharnoff.

   Interface based by Clone by Ray Finch with contributions from
   chocolateboy. Portions Copyright 2001 Ray Finch. Portions Copyright 2001
   chocolateboy.

   You may use, modify, and distribute this software under the same terms
   as Perl.