return defined($val) ? $posteval->{$client} = $val : $posteval->{$client};
}

#
# "pure virtual" methods
#

# client-specific pre/post-stop actions.
sub cprestop {}
sub cpoststop {}

# client complete startup
sub awaken {}

sub skippkg {
  my $s = shift;
  push @skippkg, @_ if @_;
}

sub evalcode {
  my ($client, $val) = @_;
  if (defined $val) {
    $running = 2;    # hand over to DB() to evaluate in its context
    $ineval->{$client} = $val;
  }
  return $ineval->{$client};
}

sub ready {
  my $s = shift;
  return $ready = 1;
}

# stubs
    
sub init {}
sub stop {}
sub idle {}
sub cleanup {}
sub output {}

#
# client init
#
for (@clients) { $_->init }

$SIG{'INT'} = \&DB::catch;

# disable this if stepping through END blocks is desired
# (looks scary and deconstructivist with Swat)
END { $ready = 0 }

1;
__END__

=head1 NAME

DB - programmatic interface to the Perl debugging API (draft, subject to
change)

=head1 SYNOPSIS

    package CLIENT;
    use DB;
    @ISA = qw(DB);

    # these (inherited) methods can be called by the client

    CLIENT->register()      # register a client package name
    CLIENT->done()          # de-register from the debugging API
    CLIENT->skippkg('hide::hide')  # ask DB not to stop in this package
    CLIENT->cont([WHERE])       # run some more (until BREAK or another breakpt)
    CLIENT->step()              # single step
    CLIENT->next()              # step over
    CLIENT->ret()               # return from current subroutine
    CLIENT->backtrace()         # return the call stack description
    CLIENT->ready()             # call when client setup is done
    CLIENT->trace_toggle()      # toggle subroutine call trace mode
    CLIENT->subs([SUBS])        # return subroutine information
    CLIENT->files()             # return list of all files known to DB
    CLIENT->lines()             # return lines in currently loaded file
    CLIENT->loadfile(FILE,LINE) # load a file and let other clients know
    CLIENT->lineevents()        # return info on lines with actions
    CLIENT->set_break([WHERE],[COND])
    CLIENT->set_tbreak([WHERE])
    CLIENT->clr_breaks([LIST])
    CLIENT->set_action(WHERE,ACTION)
    CLIENT->clr_actions([LIST])
    CLIENT->evalcode(STRING)  # eval STRING in executing code's context
    CLIENT->prestop([STRING]) # execute in code context before stopping
    CLIENT->poststop([STRING])# execute in code context before resuming

    # These methods will be called at the appropriate times.
    # Stub versions provided do nothing.
    # None of these can block.

    CLIENT->init()          # called when debug API inits itself
    CLIENT->stop(FILE,LINE) # when execution stops
    CLIENT->idle()          # while stopped (can be a client event loop)
    CLIENT->cleanup()       # just before exit