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```{index} single: Pod::Simple::Debug
```

# Pod::Simple::Debug

put Pod::Simple into trace/debug mode

## SYNOPSIS

```perl
use Pod::Simple::Debug (5);  # or some integer
```

Or:

```perl
my $debuglevel;
use Pod::Simple::Debug (\$debuglevel, 0);
...some stuff that uses Pod::Simple to do stuff, but which
 you don't want debug output from...

$debug_level = 4;
...some stuff that uses Pod::Simple to do stuff, but which
 you DO want debug output from...

$debug_level = 0;
```

## DESCRIPTION

This is an internal module for controlling the debug level (a.k.a. trace
level) of Pod::Simple.  This is of interest only to Pod::Simple
developers.

## CAVEATS

Note that you should load this module _before_ loading Pod::Simple (or
any Pod::Simple-based class).  If you try loading Pod::Simple::Debug
after &Pod::Simple::DEBUG is already defined, Pod::Simple::Debug will
throw a fatal error to the effect that
"It's too late to call Pod::Simple::Debug".

Note that the `use Pod::Simple::Debug (\$x, _somenum_)` mode will make
Pod::Simple (et al) run rather slower, since &Pod::Simple::DEBUG won't
be a constant sub anymore, and so Pod::Simple (et al) won't compile with
constant-folding.

## GUTS

Doing this:

```perl
use Pod::Simple::Debug (5);  # or some integer
```

is basically equivalent to:

```perl
BEGIN { sub Pod::Simple::DEBUG () {5} }  # or some integer
use Pod::Simple ();
```

And this:

```perl
use Pod::Simple::Debug (\$debug_level,0);  # or some integer
```

is basically equivalent to this:

```perl
my $debug_level;
BEGIN { $debug_level = 0 }
BEGIN { sub Pod::Simple::DEBUG () { $debug_level }
use Pod::Simple ();
```

## SEE ALSO

[Pod::Simple](../Simple.md)

The article "Constants in Perl", in _The Perl Journal_ issue
21\.  See [http://interglacial.com/tpj/21/](http://interglacial.com/tpj/21/)

## SUPPORT

Questions or discussion about POD and Pod::Simple should be sent to the
pod-people@perl.org mail list. Send an empty email to
pod-people-subscribe@perl.org to subscribe.

This module is managed in an open GitHub repository,
[https://github.com/perl-pod/pod-simple/](https://github.com/perl-pod/pod-simple/). Feel free to fork and contribute, or
to clone [https://github.com/perl-pod/pod-simple.git](https://github.com/perl-pod/pod-simple.git) and send patches!

Patches against Pod::Simple are welcome. Please send bug reports to
<bug-pod-simple@rt.cpan.org>.

## COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMERS

Copyright (c) 2002 Sean M. Burke.

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
under the same terms as Perl itself.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

## AUTHOR

Pod::Simple was created by Sean M. Burke <sburke@cpan.org>.
But don't bother him, he's retired.

Pod::Simple is maintained by:

- Allison Randal `allison@perl.org`
- Hans Dieter Pearcey `hdp@cpan.org`
- David E. Wheeler `dwheeler@cpan.org`