If the class can be cleanly sub-classed, then you can write a sub-class that allows you to put in hooks at the DESTROY level, before calling $self->SUPER::DESTROY for the "real" destruction. Given that you are only keeping hold of a weak reference, that may be your best bet.

Alternately, if you have developmental control over the class in question, you could develop a super-class with the functionality built in to the DESTROY method, and inherit from that in the main class. That requires writing the target class to either have no built-in destructor, or to make sure to call the super-class destructor. But it also means that you can use the interface (to use the Java terminology :-) with other classes, as well.

--rjray

In reply to Re: Object destruction notification by rjray
in thread Object destruction notification by rsteinke

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