Perl: Reading in reverse.

Shell Programming and Scripting
1

Is there a means of reading files in reverse? I just want to be able to read a file from the beginning and once I read a particular line, I start reading lines backward from there.

Now, I could toss everything into a string array, but the file I'll be reading is roughly 100MB. I don't want 100MB stored in memory. Any ideas here?

Also, is there a way to immediately purge an Array of it's elements without looping and popping? I'm looking to be efficient here.

2

Natively: don't think so, but a quick search on CPAN brought up File::ReadBackwards

As for your 2nd question: if by purging you mean emptying, just assign an empty list:

@array = ();
3

Do you have tac?

$> cat infile
     Mr. Praline: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
     Owner: We're closin' for lunch.
     Mr. Praline: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
     Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
     Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!
     Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.
$> tac infile
     Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.
     Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!
     Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
     Mr. Praline: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
     Owner: We're closin' for lunch.
     Mr. Praline: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
4

Maybe this article on reversing files will give you an idea:

v14, i06: Eight Ways to Reverse a File