========================================== Package "Math::BigIntFast" Version 6.0 ========================================== This package is available for download either from my web site at http://sb.fluomedia.org/download/ or from any CPAN (= "Comprehensive Perl Archive Network") mirror server: http://www.perl.com/CPAN/authors/id/S/ST/STBEY/ Abstract: --------- Math::BigIntFast is a wrapper module for Bit::Vector. You can use Math::BigIntFast exactly as you would use Bit::Vector, but you don't have to, you can of course use Bit::Vector directly instead if you like. See also Math::Pari and PDL on CPAN for other modules which offer efficient big integer arithmetics. Legal issues: ------------- This package with all its parts is Copyright (c) 2000 by Steffen Beyer. All rights reserved. This package is free software; you can use, modify and redistribute it under the same terms as Perl itself, i.e., under the terms of the "Artistic License" or the "GNU General Public License". Please refer to the files "Artistic.txt" and "GNU_GPL.txt" in this distribution for details! Prerequisites: -------------- Perl version 5.000 or higher, module "Bit::Vector" version 6.0 or better. Note that you will need an ANSI C compiler in order to build the module "Bit::Vector"! If you compile under Windows, you will need exactly the same compiler your Perl itself was compiled with! (This is also true for Unix, but rarely a problem.) Moreover, you usually cannot build any modules under Windows 95/98, the Win 95/98 command shell is too dumb. You will need the Windows NT command shell ("cmd.exe") or the "4DOS" shell. Note further that ActiveState provides precompiled binaries of Bit::Vector for their Win32 port of Perl ("ActivePerl") on their web site, which you should be able to install simply by typing "ppm install Bit-Vector" in your MS-DOS command shell. This also works under Windows 95/98. If your firewall prevents "ppm" from downloading the package, you can also download it manually from http://www.activestate.com/ppmpackages/5.005/zips/ or http://www.activestate.com/ppmpackages/5.6/zips/. Follow the installation instructions included in the "zip" archive. Installation: ------------- See also the file "INSTALL.txt" in this distribution for instructions on how to install this package. Essentially, it's the usual mantra - perl Makefile.PL - make - make install But you don't need to do so, you can also use Bit::Vector directly. Changes over previous versions: ------------------------------- Please refer to the file "CHANGES.txt" in this distribution for a detailed version history. Documentation: -------------- See the Bit::Vector(3) and Bit::Vector::Overload(3) manpages. (The Math::BigIntFast(3) manpage essentially just says the same.) What does it do: ---------------- This module allows you to handle integers of any size you like and to perform math operations on them very efficiently. The module is written in C for maximum speed and uses a two's complement binary representation to store the numbers, internally. Possible fields of application include cryptography, mathematical or astronomical calculations, and so on. See also Math::Pari and PDL on CPAN for other modules which offer efficient big integer arithmetics. If you want the added benefit and ease of use of overloaded operators (and if you're willing to pay the little speed penalty this implies), use "Bit::Vector::Overload" instead of "Math::BigIntFast". Credits: -------- Please refer to the file "CREDITS.txt" in this distribution for a list of contributors. Author's note: -------------- If you have any questions, suggestions or need any assistance, please let me know! Please do send feedback, this is essential for improving this module according to your needs! I hope you will find this module beneficial. Yours, -- Steffen Beyer http://sb.fluomedia.org/ "There is enough for the need of everyone in this world, but not for the greed of everyone." - Mohandas Karamchand "Mahatma" Gandhi