--- /dev/null
+package TAP::Object;
+
+use strict;
+use vars qw($VERSION);
+
+=head1 NAME
+
+TAP::Object - Base class that provides common functionality to all C<TAP::*> modules
+
+=head1 VERSION
+
+Version 3.12
+
+=cut
+
+$VERSION = '3.12';
+
+=head1 SYNOPSIS
+
+ package TAP::Whatever;
+
+ use strict;
+ use vars qw(@ISA);
+
+ use TAP::Object;
+
+ @ISA = qw(TAP::Object);
+
+ # new() implementation by TAP::Object
+ sub _initialize {
+ my ( $self, @args) = @_;
+ # initialize your object
+ return $self;
+ }
+
+ # ... later ...
+ my $obj = TAP::Whatever->new(@args);
+
+=head1 DESCRIPTION
+
+C<TAP::Object> provides a default constructor and exception model for all
+C<TAP::*> classes. Exceptions are raised using L<Carp>.
+
+=head1 METHODS
+
+=head2 Class Methods
+
+=head3 C<new>
+
+Create a new object. Any arguments passed to C<new> will be passed on to the
+L</_initialize> method. Returns a new object.
+
+=cut
+
+sub new {
+ my $class = shift;
+ my $self = bless {}, $class;
+ return $self->_initialize(@_);
+}
+
+=head2 Instance Methods
+
+=head3 C<_initialize>
+
+Initializes a new object. This method is a stub by default, you should override
+it as appropriate.
+
+I<Note:> L</new> expects you to return C<$self> or raise an exception. See
+L</_croak>, and L<Carp>.
+
+=cut
+
+sub _initialize {
+ return $_[0];
+}
+
+=head3 C<_croak>
+
+Raise an exception using C<croak> from L<Carp>, eg:
+
+ $self->_croak( 'why me?', 'aaarrgh!' );
+
+May also be called as a I<class> method.
+
+ $class->_croak( 'this works too' );
+
+=cut
+
+sub _croak {
+ my $proto = shift;
+ require Carp;
+ Carp::croak(@_);
+ return;
+}
+
+1;
+