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

  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 kernel 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.