Pilot(3)

📦
version 0.12.5 · 2 versions
, in fedora 43

Pilot(3) 💖 — User Contributed Perl Documentation

okay so bestie, this is the Pilot(3) page from the User Contributed Perl Documentation, and it's giving vintage Palm PDA realness. It's got a whole list of commands, and we're gonna go through every single one. 💅

Commands include:

Notice! This information is out of date, and potentially quite misleading.

fr fr, read that twice. This page is old, so don't come for me if something feels weird. Now, the commands:

  • PDA::Pilot::Appointment::Unpack(buffer) — gives you back a hash reference with the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, when you hand it a record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. 🗓️
  • PDA::Pilot::Appointment::Pack(buffer) — you give it a hash reference shaped like the one the previous call makes, and it returns one single string that's ready to store in a Pilot's database. 📦
  • PDA::Pilot::Appointment::UnpackAppInfo(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given the AppInfo record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. ✨
  • PDA::Pilot::Appointment::PackAppInfo(buffer) — you pass in a hash reference in the form the previous call generates, and it returns one single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database AppInfo block. 💖
  • PDA::Pilot::Memo::Unpack(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given a record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. yes, it says appointment even here — that's the page's whole vibe. 📝
  • PDA::Pilot::Memo::Pack(buffer) — given a hash reference in the form that the previous call generates, it returns a single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database. 🎀
  • PDA::Pilot::Memo::UnpackAppInfo(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given the AppInfo record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. 🦋
  • PDA::Pilot::Memo::PackAppInfo(buffer) — given a hash reference in the form that the previous call generates, it returns a single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database AppInfo block. 🌸
  • PDA::Pilot::ToDo::Unpack(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given a record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. ✅
  • PDA::Pilot::ToDo::Pack(buffer) — given a hash reference in the form that the previous call generates, it returns a single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database. 📌
  • PDA::Pilot::ToDo::UnpackAppInfo(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given the AppInfo record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. ✨
  • PDA::Pilot::ToDo::PackAppInfo(buffer) — given a hash reference in the form that the previous call generates, it returns a single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database AppInfo block. 💫
  • PDA::Pilot::Address::Unpack(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given a record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. 📇
  • PDA::Pilot::Address::Pack(buffer) — given a hash reference in the form that the previous call generates, it returns a single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database. 📬
  • PDA::Pilot::Address::UnpackAppInfo(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given the AppInfo record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. 🏷️
  • PDA::Pilot::Address::PackAppInfo(buffer) — given a hash reference in the form that the previous call generates, it returns a single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database AppInfo block. 💌
  • PDA::Pilot::Mail::Unpack(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given a record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. 📧
  • PDA::Pilot::Mail::Pack(buffer) — given a hash reference in the form that the previous call generates, it returns a single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database. 📨
  • PDA::Pilot::Mail::UnpackAppInfo(buffer) — returns a hash reference containing the appointment (datebook entry) in a usable format, given the AppInfo record from a .pdb file or a Pilot database. 📩
  • PDA::Pilot::Mail::PackAppInfo(buffer) — given a hash reference in the form that the previous call generates, it returns a single string suitable for storing in a Pilot's database AppInfo block. 💌
  • PDA::Pilot::Socket::socket(domain, type, protocol) — same as the pi-link routine called pi_socket. 🔌
  • PDA::Pilot::Socket::close(socket) — same as the pi-link routine called pi_close. 🚪
  • PDA::Pilot::Socket::write(socket, string) — same as the pi-link routine called pi_write. ✍️
  • PDA::Pilot::Socket::read(socket, len) — same as the pi-link routine called pi_write (and yes, it returns the read data as the result). 👀
  • PDA::Pilot::Socket::listen(socket, backlog) — same as the pi-link routine called pi_listen. 👂
  • PDA::Pilot::Socket::bind(socket, sockaddr) — same as the pi-link routine called pi_bind. Sockaddr may either be a packed string containing a pi_sockaddr structure, or a hash reference containing "device", "family", and "port" keys. 🧷
  • PDA::Pilot::Socket::accept(socket) — same as the pi-link routine called pi_accept. If the connection is successful, it returns a reference to a hash containing the remote address, as described above. If it fails, it returns undef. 🤝
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::errno() — returns the last DLP error, resetting that error to zero. 🚨
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::GetSysDateTime(socket) — same as the DLP call dlp_GetSysDateTime. If it works, it returns the time; otherwise it returns undef. ⏰
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::SetSysDateTime(socket, time) — same as the DLP call dlp_SetSysDateTime. time must be a time_t value. 🕰️
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadSysInfo(socket) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadSysInfo. If it works, it returns a reference to a hash containing system information. 🖥️
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadStorageInfo(socket, cardno) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadStorageInfo. If it works, it returns a reference to a hash containing information on the given memory card. 💾
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadUserInfo(socket) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadUserInfo. If it works, it returns a reference to a hash containing information about user settings. 👤
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::WriteUserInfo(socket, info) — same as the DLP call dlp_WriteUserInfo. info must be a reference to a hash containing data similar to that returned by ReadUserInfo (Note: the password can not be set through this call.) 🔐
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::OpenDB(socket, cardno, mode, name) — same as the DLP call dlp_OpenDB. If it works, it returns a database handle; otherwise it returns undef. 🗄️
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::CloseDB(socket, handle) — same as the DLP call dlp_CloseDB. 🔒
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::EndOfSync(socket, status) — same as the DLP call dlp_EndOfSync. 🏁
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::AbortSync(socket) — same as the DLP call dlp_AbortSync. 🛑
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::MoveCategory(socket, handle, fromcat, tocat) — same as the DLP call dlp_MoveCategory. 📂
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ResetSystem(socket) — same as the DLP call dlp_ResetSystem. 🔄
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::OpenConduit(socket) — same as the DLP call dlp_OpenConduit. 🚇
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::AddSyncLogEntry(socket, message) — same as the DLP call dlp_AddSyncLogEntry. 📝
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::CleanUpDatabase(socket, handle) — same as the DLP call dlp_CleanUpDatabase. 🧹
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ResetSyncFlags(socket, handle) — same as the DLP call dlp_ResetSyncFlags. 🚩
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ResetDBIndex(socket, handle) — same as the DLP call dlp_ResetDBIndex. 🔢
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ResetLastSyncPC(socket) — same as the DLP call dlp_ResetLastSyncPC. 🖥️
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::DeleteCategory(socket, handle, category) — same as the DLP call dlp_DeleteCategory. 🗑️
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::DeleteRecord(socket, handle, all, id) — same as the DLP call dlp_DeleteRecord. ❌
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadDBList(socket, cardno, flags, start) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadDBList. If it works, it returns a reference to a hash containing DB information. If it fails, it returns undef. 📋
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::FindDBInfo(socket, cardno, flags, name, type, creator) — same as the DLP call dlp_FindDBInfo. If it works, it returns a reference to a hash containing DB information. If it fails, it returns undef. 🔍
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadFeature(socket, creator, number) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadFeature. If it works, it returns the feature value. If it fails, it returns undef. ⭐
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadAppBlock(socket, handle) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadAppBlock. If it works, it returns the app block. If it fails, it returns undef. 🧱
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadSortBlock(socket, handle) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadSortBlock. If it works, it returns the app block. If it fails, it returns undef. 🧱
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::WriteAppBlock(socket, handle, block) — same as the DLP call dlp_WriteAppBlock. ✍️
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::WriteSortBlock(socket, handle, block) — same as the DLP call dlp_WriteSortBlock. ✍️
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadOpenDBInfo(socket, handle) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadOpenDBInfo. ℹ️
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadRecordByIndex(socket, handle, index) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadRecordByIndex. If the call fails, it returns undef. Otherwise, in scalar context it returns the read record; in array it returns the record, id, index, attr, and category, in that order. 📇
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadRecordById(socket, handle, id) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadRecordById. If the call fails, it returns undef. Otherwise, in scalar context it returns the read record; in array it returns the record, id, index, attr, and category, in that order. 🆔
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadNextModifiedRec(socket, handle) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadNextModifiedRec. If the call fails, it returns undef. Otherwise, in scalar context it returns the read record; in array it returns the record, id, index, attr, and category, in that order. 🔄
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadNextRecInCategory(socket, handle, category) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadNextRecInCategory. If the call fails, it returns undef. Otherwise, in scalar context it returns the read record; in array it returns the record, id, index, attr, and category, in that order. 📂
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadNextModifiedRecInCategory(socket, handle, category) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadNextModifiedRecInCategory. If the call fails, it returns undef. Otherwise, in scalar context it returns the read record; in array it returns the record, id, index, attr, and category, in that order. 🔄
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::WriteRecord(socket, handle, record, id, attr, category) — same as the DLP call dlp_WriteRecord. 💾
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadResourceByType(socket, handle, type, id) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadResourceByType. If the call fails, it returns undef. Otherwise, in scalar context it returns the read record; in array it returns the record, type, id, and index, in that order. 🧩
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::ReadResourceByIndex(socket, handle, index) — same as the DLP call dlp_ReadResourceByIndex. If the call fails, it returns undef. Otherwise, in scalar context it returns the read record; in array it returns the record, type, id, and index, in that order. 🔢
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::WriteResource(socket, handle, record, type, id) — literally just the DLP call dlp_WriteResource, bestie. Same name, same energy. 💅
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::DeleteResource(socket, handle, all, type, id) — same as the DLP call dlp_DeleteResource. It deletes. It takes all, so yeah, you can nuke the whole thing. 🔥
  • PDA::Pilot::DLP::CallApplication(socket, creator, type, action, data) — same as the DLP call dlp_CallApplication. You're ringing up another app on the Palm and handing it creator, type, action and data. ✨

🦋 the PDA::Pilot::File era 🦋

  • PDA::Pilot::File::open(name) — same as pi_file_open. If it works out, you get a PDA::Pilot::File object back, and that's the slay. 💖
  • PDA::Pilot::File::close(file) — same as pi_file_close. Close the door behind you, bestie. 🚪
  • PDA::Pilot::File::get_app_info(file) — same as pi_file_get_app_info.
  • PDA::Pilot::File::get_sort_info(file) — same as pi_file_get_sort_info.
  • PDA::Pilot::File::get_entries(file) — same as pi_file_get_entries.
  • PDA::Pilot::File::read_resource(file, index) — same as pi_file_read_resource. It hands you back (record, type, id, index) — a whole little bundle, so cute. 🎀
  • PDA::Pilot::File::read_record(file, index) — same as pi_file_read_record. Returns (record, id, index, attr, category). Five things. Iconic.
  • PDA::Pilot::File::read_record_by_id(file, type, id) — same as pi_file_read_record_by_id. Returns (record, id, index, attr, category), same lineup as above. ✨
  • PDA::Pilot::File::create(name, info) — same as pi_file_create. And heads up: info is a reference to a hash containing dbinfo data, okay? Don't come at me with anything else. 🫶
  • PDA::Pilot::File::get_info(file) — same as pi_file_get_info.
  • PDA::Pilot::File::set_info(file, info) — same as pi_file_set_info.
  • PDA::Pilot::File::set_app_info(file, data) — same as pi_file_set_app_info.
  • PDA::Pilot::File::set_sort_info(file, data) — same as pi_file_set_sort_info.
  • PDA::Pilot::File::append_resource(file, data, type, id) — same as pi_file_append_resource. Slap that resource on the end. 💅
  • PDA::Pilot::File::append_record(file, data, attr, category, id) — same as pi_file_append_record. Record goes on the end, attr, category and id come along for the ride. 🌸
  • PDA::Pilot::File::install(file, socket, cardno) — same as pi_file_install. Sending it over to the device via socket, onto card cardno. 🦋
  • PDA::Pilot::File::retrieve(file, socket, cardno) — same as pi_file_retrieve. And this is the glow-up in reverse: pulling it back off card cardno through socket. 💜
reminder bestie: every single one of these is a thin lil wrapper — "same as" the C call it's named after. That's the whole vibe. The Perl side is just there to make it cute. 😭

and that's a wrap on Pilot(3) fr fr 🎀 this one's from perl v5.42.0, dated 2025-07-25 — go forth and sync, you absolute legend 👑💖

📦 where this page comes from
  • fedora 43: pilot-link 2:0.12.5-66.fc43 · GPL-2.0-only AND GPL-2.0-or-later AND LicenseRef-Callaway-LGPLv2+ AND LicenseRef-Callaway-Public-Domain
  • 💖 girlified by deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash on : a language model's rewrite of the original, under its terms