http://poe.perl.org/

POE parcels out execution time among one or more tasks, called sessions. Sessions multitask through cooperation (at least until Perl's threads become mainstream). That is, each session returns execution to POE as quickly as possible so it can parcel out time to the next.

POE includes a high-level component architecture. Components are modular, reusable pieces of programs. They perform common, often tedious tasks so programmers can work on more interesting things.

Several POE components have been written to handle client, server, and peer networking tasks. Because of them, POE has become a convenient and quick way to write multitasking network applications.

Anyone can write and publish POE components. The CPAN contains a steadily growing list of them. The POE Components List includes ones that haven't been uploaded to the CPAN yet.

POE provides medium- and low-level concurrency functions. Components use them to perform their tasks. The functions are also available to programmers who prefer to avoid the overhead of components at the expense of writing more code. Components and custom sessions coexist because they all use the same basic functions.

POE supports graphical toolkits such as Tk and Gtk. It is the only Perl programming framework that does this. It also supports Curses, HTTP, and other user interfaces. POE programs can present multiple user interfaces at once.