the implementation begins

perl/README

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+===========
+cowsay 3.04
+===========
+
+cowsay is a configurable talking cow, written in Perl.  It operates
+much as the figlet program does, and it written in the same spirit
+of silliness.
+
+cowsay is actually a pretty old program.  It has not really been
+released before, and I am releasing it in the hope that someone
+other than myself will be amused by it. 
+
+The first major version of cowsay had one cow and one message
+template: $foo is $verb $bar.  Not very flexible, but people managed
+to do pretty interesting things with it.  The second major version
+scrapped many of the limitations of the first, by allowing arbitrary
+messages, multiple cowfiles, and even support for cows talking in
+figlet.  The third version was a rewrite of the second into Perl
+5, whereupon the code got a lot smaller and more manageable. :-)
+
+If you are using Perl 5.004, you may have problems with Text::Wrap.
+(Yeesh, this module changes more than it should...)  I've included
+a diff for the Text::Wrap (version 97.011701) that is shipped with
+5.004_04; the concept is simple enough that even older Perls can
+take advantage of this silly little patch; if there is a "sub fill"
+in the documentation for the module, copy it to a more useful
+section of that file.  If not, just take "sub fill" wholesale from
+the patch.  Oh, and consider upgrading to 5.005_03 or later.
+Please.  You'll like it, I promise.
+
+To install cowsay, consult the INSTALL file in this directory.
+
+For the terms and conditions of use, consult the LICENSE file in
+this directory.
+
+-- tony