i vote for the database as well. even if you have to install mysql yourself. but if you must you can try something like this.

#!/usr/bin/perl
#
# foo - called by bar.  recieves files to search on it's
#       input, calculates top N, retrieves the details for
#       the top N and prints them to STDOUT in some easily
#       parseable format
#

use strict;
use warnings;
$|++;

my @files = <>;
chomp @files;

for (@files) {
        # process files
        warn "processing $_$/";
}

my @top = ( [ a => 10 ],     # get top N
            [ b => 5  ],
            [ c => 3  ],
);

my %detail = (              # and detail info
        a => [ 1, 1, 4, 2, 1, 1 ],
        b => [ 1, 2, 2 ],
        c => [ 1, 2 ],
);

for (@top) {
        printf "%s %d$/", @$_;
        printf "@{$detail{$_->[0]}}$/";
}
exit;




#!/usr/bin/perl
#
# bar - calls foo as a child process and colects tidbits
#       of data for future use.  foo's memory will go back
#       to the system soon after the answers are read.
#

use strict;
use warnings;

use IPC::Open2;

my @files = qw( xxx xxy xxz );

my ($read, $write, $child);

$child = open2($read, $write, './foo');

print $write $_,$/ for @files;
close $write;

my @info = <$read>;
close $read;
waitpid $child, 0;

print @info;

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In reply to Re: Re: Re: Force perl to release memory back to the operating system by zengargoyle
in thread Force perl to release memory back to the operating system by Roger

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