I want to have XML config files for an application that are really representations of Perl objects. For example, the Perl object might contain some scalars, references to other aggregated-in objects, and some arrays. I would like to be able to freeze/thaw (persist/restore, whatever) these objects as files, but instead of using Data::Dumper's Perl-eval-able format, I'd like to use XML. This way someone who understands XML (but not necessarily Perl) might be able to edit the XML file containing the object and maybe add a new element to a list, change a scalar string, etc. When the application was run again and the file was restored as an object, the new element(s) in the list would now be in the Perl object in memory.

I think XML::Simple would be misapplied here (it doesn't like to write out blessed hash refs passed to XMLout). I think I need something more industrial strength but so far my CPAN search has been fruitless. If this does not make sense, please ask for clarification. I'm a little tired now. TIA for your help, -A.

In reply to XML-ish Data::Dumper? by agelina

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