I say in pod

File::DumbLock implements the dumbest kind of "locking" mechanism known to man. It's voluntary, and it can backfire, but virtually every plaform suports it.

Most of your comments fall apart in face of that statement.

Flock is not supported on win9x.

I think people are --ing you because you haven't offered any alternatives, and thus your statements sound smart-alecky.

I certainly would like to know what

ways of executing "atomic" test-and-set operations

Are you talking about attempting to create a "lock directory" instead of a lock file (now that I think about it, that's what i'll change it to do)?

I for one would like to know( i do say above: "If you know of a module that already exists that does this, please /tell me", did I have to also say if you know a better flockless way, tell me?)

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** The Third rule of perl club is a statement of fact: pod is sexy.