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=head1 NAME
perlmodlib - constructing new Perl modules and finding existing ones
=head1 THE PERL MODULE LIBRARY
Many modules are included in the Perl distribution. These are described
below, and all end in F<.pm>. You may discover compiled library
files (usually ending in F<.so>) or small pieces of modules to be
autoloaded (ending in F<.al>); these were automatically generated
by the installation process. You may also discover files in the
library directory that end in either F<.pl> or F<.ph>. These are
old libraries supplied so that old programs that use them still
run. The F<.pl> files will all eventually be converted into standard
modules, and the F<.ph> files made by B<h2ph> will probably end up
as extension modules made by B<h2xs>. (Some F<.ph> values may
already be available through the POSIX, Errno, or Fcntl modules.)
The B<pl2pm> file in the distribution may help in your conversion,
but it's just a mechanical process and therefore far from bulletproof.
=head2 Pragmatic Modules
They work somewhat like compiler directives (pragmata) in that they
tend to affect the compilation of your program, and thus will usually
work well only when used within a C<use>, or C<no>. Most of these
are lexically scoped, so an inner BLOCK may countermand them
by saying:
no integer;
no strict 'refs';
no warnings;
which lasts until the end of that BLOCK.
Some pragmas are lexically scoped--typically those that affect the
C<$^H> hints variable. Others affect the current package instead,
like C<use vars> and C<use subs>, which allow you to predeclare a
variables or subroutines within a particular I<file> rather than
just a block. Such declarations are effective for the entire file
for which they were declared. You cannot rescind them with C<no
vars> or C<no subs>.
The following pragmas are defined (and have their own documentation).
=over 12
=item arybase
Set indexing base via $[
=item attributes
Get/set subroutine or variable attributes
=item autodie
Replace functions with ones that succeed or die with lexical scope
=item autodie::exception
Exceptions from autodying functions.
=item autodie::exception::system
Exceptions from autodying system().
=item autodie::hints
Provide hints about user subroutines to autodie
=item autodie::skip
Skip a package when throwing autodie exceptions
=item autouse
Postpone load of modules until a function is used
=item base
Establish an ISA relationship with base classes at compile time
=item bigint
Transparent BigInteger support for Perl
=item bignum
Transparent BigNumber support for Perl
=item bigrat
Transparent BigNumber/BigRational support for Perl
=item blib
Use MakeMaker's uninstalled version of a package
=item bytes
Expose the individual bytes of characters
=item charnames
Access to Unicode character names and named character sequences; also define character names
=item constant
Declare constants
=item deprecate
Perl pragma for deprecating the core version of a module
=item diagnostics
Produce verbose warning diagnostics
=item encoding
Allows you to write your script in non-ASCII and non-UTF-8
=item encoding::warnings
Warn on implicit encoding conversions
=item experimental
Experimental features made easy
=item feature
Enable new features
=item fields
Compile-time class fields
=item filetest
Control the filetest permission operators
=item if
C<use> a Perl module if a condition holds (also can C<no> a module)
=item integer
Use integer arithmetic instead of floating point
=item less
Request less of something
=item lib
Manipulate @INC at compile time
=item locale
Use or avoid POSIX locales for built-in operations
=item mro
Method Resolution Order
=item ok
Alternative to Test::More::use_ok
=item open
Set default PerlIO layers for input and output
=item ops
Restrict unsafe operations when compiling
=item overload
Package for overloading Perl operations
=item overloading
Lexically control overloading
=item parent
Establish an ISA relationship with base classes at compile time
=item re
Alter regular expression behaviour
=item sigtrap
Enable simple signal handling
=item sort
Control sort() behaviour
=item strict
Restrict unsafe constructs
=item subs
Predeclare sub names
=item threads
Perl interpreter-based threads
=item threads::shared
Perl extension for sharing data structures between threads
=item utf8
Enable/disable UTF-8 (or UTF-EBCDIC) in source code
=item vars
Predeclare global variable names
=item version
Perl extension for Version Objects
=item vmsish
Control VMS-specific language features
=item warnings::register
Warnings import function
=back
=head2 Standard Modules
Standard, bundled modules are all expected to behave in a well-defined
manner with respect to namespace pollution because they use the
Exporter module. See their own documentation for details.
It's possible that not all modules listed below are installed on your
system. For example, the GDBM_File module will not be installed if you
don't have the gdbm library.
=over 12
=item Amiga::ARexx
Perl extension for ARexx support
=item Amiga::Exec
Perl extension for low level amiga support
=item AnyDBM_File
Provide framework for multiple DBMs
=item App::Cpan
Easily interact with CPAN from the command line
=item App::Prove
Implements the C<prove> command.
=item App::Prove::State
State storage for the C<prove> command.
=item App::Prove::State::Result
Individual test suite results.
=item App::Prove::State::Result::Test
Individual test results.
=item Archive::Tar
Module for manipulations of tar archives
=item Archive::Tar::File
A subclass for in-memory extracted file from Archive::Tar
=item Attribute::Handlers
Simpler definition of attribute handlers
=item AutoLoader
Load subroutines only on demand
=item AutoSplit
Split a package for autoloading
=item B
The Perl Compiler Backend
=item B::Concise
Walk Perl syntax tree, printing concise info about ops
=item B::Debug
Walk Perl syntax tree, printing debug info about ops
=item B::Deparse
Perl compiler backend to produce perl code
=item B::Op_private
OP op_private flag definitions
=item B::Showlex
Show lexical variables used in functions or files
=item B::Terse
Walk Perl syntax tree, printing terse info about ops
=item B::Xref
Generates cross reference reports for Perl programs
=item Benchmark
Benchmark running times of Perl code
=item C<IO::Socket::IP>
Family-neutral IP socket supporting both IPv4 and IPv6
=item C<Socket>
Networking constants and support functions
=item CORE
Namespace for Perl's core routines
=item CPAN
Query, download and build perl modules from CPAN sites
=item CPAN::API::HOWTO
A recipe book for programming with CPAN.pm
=item CPAN::Debug
Internal debugging for CPAN.pm
=item CPAN::Distroprefs
Read and match distroprefs
=item CPAN::FirstTime
Utility for CPAN::Config file Initialization
=item CPAN::HandleConfig
Internal configuration handling for CPAN.pm
=item CPAN::Kwalify
Interface between CPAN.pm and Kwalify.pm
=item CPAN::Meta
The distribution metadata for a CPAN dist
=item CPAN::Meta::Converter
Convert CPAN distribution metadata structures
=item CPAN::Meta::Feature
An optional feature provided by a CPAN distribution
=item CPAN::Meta::History
History of CPAN Meta Spec changes
=item CPAN::Meta::History::Meta_1_0
Version 1.0 metadata specification for META.yml
=item CPAN::Meta::History::Meta_1_1
Version 1.1 metadata specification for META.yml
=item CPAN::Meta::History::Meta_1_2
Version 1.2 metadata specification for META.yml
=item CPAN::Meta::History::Meta_1_3
Version 1.3 metadata specification for META.yml
=item CPAN::Meta::History::Meta_1_4
Version 1.4 metadata specification for META.yml
=item CPAN::Meta::Merge
Merging CPAN Meta fragments
=item CPAN::Meta::Prereqs
A set of distribution prerequisites by phase and type
=item CPAN::Meta::Requirements
A set of version requirements for a CPAN dist
=item CPAN::Meta::Spec
Specification for CPAN distribution metadata
=item CPAN::Meta::Validator
Validate CPAN distribution metadata structures
=item CPAN::Meta::YAML
Read and write a subset of YAML for CPAN Meta files
=item CPAN::Nox
Wrapper around CPAN.pm without using any XS module
=item CPAN::Plugin
Base class for CPAN shell extensions
=item CPAN::Plugin::Specfile
Proof of concept implementation of a trivial CPAN::Plugin
=item CPAN::Queue
Internal queue support for CPAN.pm
=item CPAN::Tarzip
Internal handling of tar archives for CPAN.pm
=item CPAN::Version
Utility functions to compare CPAN versions
=item Carp
Alternative warn and die for modules
=item Class::Struct
Declare struct-like datatypes as Perl classes
=item Compress::Raw::Bzip2
Low-Level Interface to bzip2 compression library
=item Compress::Raw::Zlib
Low-Level Interface to zlib compression library
=item Compress::Zlib
Interface to zlib compression library
=item Config
Access Perl configuration information
=item Config::Perl::V
Structured data retrieval of perl -V output
=item Cwd
Get pathname of current working directory
=item DB
Programmatic interface to the Perl debugging API
=item DBM_Filter
Filter DBM keys/values
=item DBM_Filter::compress
Filter for DBM_Filter
=item DBM_Filter::encode
Filter for DBM_Filter
=item DBM_Filter::int32
Filter for DBM_Filter
=item DBM_Filter::null
Filter for DBM_Filter
=item DBM_Filter::utf8
Filter for DBM_Filter
=item DB_File
Perl5 access to Berkeley DB version 1.x
=item Data::Dumper
Stringified perl data structures, suitable for both printing and C<eval>
=item Devel::PPPort
Perl/Pollution/Portability
=item Devel::Peek
A data debugging tool for the XS programmer
=item Devel::SelfStubber
Generate stubs for a SelfLoading module
=item Digest
Modules that calculate message digests
=item Digest::MD5
Perl interface to the MD5 Algorithm
=item Digest::SHA
Perl extension for SHA-1/224/256/384/512
=item Digest::base
Digest base class
=item Digest::file
Calculate digests of files
=item DirHandle
Supply object methods for directory handles
=item Dumpvalue
Provides screen dump of Perl data.
=item DynaLoader
Dynamically load C libraries into Perl code
=item Encode
Character encodings in Perl
=item Encode::Alias
Alias definitions to encodings
=item Encode::Byte
Single Byte Encodings
=item Encode::CJKConstants
Internally used by Encode::??::ISO_2022_*
=item Encode::CN
China-based Chinese Encodings
=item Encode::CN::HZ
Internally used by Encode::CN
=item Encode::Config
Internally used by Encode
=item Encode::EBCDIC
EBCDIC Encodings
=item Encode::Encoder
Object Oriented Encoder
=item Encode::Encoding
Encode Implementation Base Class
=item Encode::GSM0338
ESTI GSM 03.38 Encoding
=item Encode::Guess
Guesses encoding from data
=item Encode::JP
Japanese Encodings
=item Encode::JP::H2Z
Internally used by Encode::JP::2022_JP*
=item Encode::JP::JIS7
Internally used by Encode::JP
=item Encode::KR
Korean Encodings
=item Encode::KR::2022_KR
Internally used by Encode::KR
=item Encode::MIME::Header
MIME encoding for an unstructured email header
=item Encode::MIME::Name
Internally used by Encode
=item Encode::PerlIO
A detailed document on Encode and PerlIO
=item Encode::Supported
Encodings supported by Encode
=item Encode::Symbol
Symbol Encodings
=item Encode::TW
Taiwan-based Chinese Encodings
=item Encode::Unicode
Various Unicode Transformation Formats
=item Encode::Unicode::UTF7
UTF-7 encoding
=item English
Use nice English (or awk) names for ugly punctuation variables
=item Env
Perl module that imports environment variables as scalars or arrays
=item Errno
System errno constants
=item Exporter
Implements default import method for modules
=item Exporter::Heavy
Exporter guts
=item ExtUtils::CBuilder
Compile and link C code for Perl modules
=item ExtUtils::CBuilder::Platform::Windows
Builder class for Windows platforms
=item ExtUtils::Command
Utilities to replace common UNIX commands in Makefiles etc.
=item ExtUtils::Command::MM
Commands for the MM's to use in Makefiles
=item ExtUtils::Constant
Generate XS code to import C header constants
=item ExtUtils::Constant::Base
Base class for ExtUtils::Constant objects
=item ExtUtils::Constant::Utils
Helper functions for ExtUtils::Constant
=item ExtUtils::Constant::XS
Generate C code for XS modules' constants.
=item ExtUtils::Embed
Utilities for embedding Perl in C/C++ applications
=item ExtUtils::Install
Install files from here to there
=item ExtUtils::Installed
Inventory management of installed modules
=item ExtUtils::Liblist
Determine libraries to use and how to use them
=item ExtUtils::MM
OS adjusted ExtUtils::MakeMaker subclass
=item ExtUtils::MM::Utils
ExtUtils::MM methods without dependency on ExtUtils::MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MM_AIX
AIX specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix
=item ExtUtils::MM_Any
Platform-agnostic MM methods
=item ExtUtils::MM_BeOS
Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MM_Cygwin
Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MM_DOS
DOS specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix
=item ExtUtils::MM_Darwin
Special behaviors for OS X
=item ExtUtils::MM_MacOS
Once produced Makefiles for MacOS Classic
=item ExtUtils::MM_NW5
Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MM_OS2
Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MM_QNX
QNX specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix
=item ExtUtils::MM_UWIN
U/WIN specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix
=item ExtUtils::MM_Unix
Methods used by ExtUtils::MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MM_VMS
Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MM_VOS
VOS specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix
=item ExtUtils::MM_Win32
Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MM_Win95
Method to customize MakeMaker for Win9X
=item ExtUtils::MY
ExtUtils::MakeMaker subclass for customization
=item ExtUtils::MakeMaker
Create a module Makefile
=item ExtUtils::MakeMaker::Config
Wrapper around Config.pm
=item ExtUtils::MakeMaker::FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::MakeMaker::Locale
Bundled Encode::Locale
=item ExtUtils::MakeMaker::Tutorial
Writing a module with MakeMaker
=item ExtUtils::Manifest
Utilities to write and check a MANIFEST file
=item ExtUtils::Miniperl
Write the C code for miniperlmain.c and perlmain.c
=item ExtUtils::Mkbootstrap
Make a bootstrap file for use by DynaLoader
=item ExtUtils::Mksymlists
Write linker options files for dynamic extension
=item ExtUtils::Packlist
Manage .packlist files
=item ExtUtils::ParseXS
Converts Perl XS code into C code
=item ExtUtils::ParseXS::Constants
Initialization values for some globals
=item ExtUtils::ParseXS::Eval
Clean package to evaluate code in
=item ExtUtils::ParseXS::Utilities
Subroutines used with ExtUtils::ParseXS
=item ExtUtils::Typemaps
Read/Write/Modify Perl/XS typemap files
=item ExtUtils::Typemaps::Cmd
Quick commands for handling typemaps
=item ExtUtils::Typemaps::InputMap
Entry in the INPUT section of a typemap
=item ExtUtils::Typemaps::OutputMap
Entry in the OUTPUT section of a typemap
=item ExtUtils::Typemaps::Type
Entry in the TYPEMAP section of a typemap
=item ExtUtils::XSSymSet
Keep sets of symbol names palatable to the VMS linker
=item ExtUtils::testlib
Add blib/* directories to @INC
=item Fatal
Replace functions with equivalents which succeed or die
=item Fcntl
Load the C Fcntl.h defines
=item File::Basename
Parse file paths into directory, filename and suffix.
=item File::Compare
Compare files or filehandles
=item File::Copy
Copy files or filehandles
=item File::DosGlob
DOS like globbing and then some
=item File::Fetch
A generic file fetching mechanism
=item File::Find
Traverse a directory tree.
=item File::Glob
Perl extension for BSD glob routine
=item File::GlobMapper
Extend File Glob to Allow Input and Output Files
=item File::Path
Create or remove directory trees
=item File::Spec
Portably perform operations on file names
=item File::Spec::AmigaOS
File::Spec for AmigaOS
=item File::Spec::Cygwin
Methods for Cygwin file specs
=item File::Spec::Epoc
Methods for Epoc file specs
=item File::Spec::Functions
Portably perform operations on file names
=item File::Spec::Mac
File::Spec for Mac OS (Classic)
=item File::Spec::OS2
Methods for OS/2 file specs
=item File::Spec::Unix
File::Spec for Unix, base for other File::Spec modules
=item File::Spec::VMS
Methods for VMS file specs
=item File::Spec::Win32
Methods for Win32 file specs
=item File::Temp
Return name and handle of a temporary file safely
=item File::stat
By-name interface to Perl's built-in stat() functions
=item FileCache
Keep more files open than the system permits
=item FileHandle
Supply object methods for filehandles
=item Filter::Simple
Simplified source filtering
=item Filter::Util::Call
Perl Source Filter Utility Module
=item FindBin
Locate directory of original perl script
=item GDBM_File
Perl5 access to the gdbm library.
=item Getopt::Long
Extended processing of command line options
=item Getopt::Std
Process single-character switches with switch clustering
=item HTTP::Tiny
A small, simple, correct HTTP/1.1 client
=item Hash::Util
A selection of general-utility hash subroutines
=item Hash::Util::FieldHash
Support for Inside-Out Classes
=item I18N::Collate
Compare 8-bit scalar data according to the current locale
=item I18N::LangTags
Functions for dealing with RFC3066-style language tags
=item I18N::LangTags::Detect
Detect the user's language preferences
=item I18N::LangTags::List
Tags and names for human languages
=item I18N::Langinfo
Query locale information
=item IO
Load various IO modules
=item IO::Compress::Base
Base Class for IO::Compress modules
=item IO::Compress::Bzip2
Write bzip2 files/buffers
=item IO::Compress::Deflate
Write RFC 1950 files/buffers
=item IO::Compress::FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about IO::Compress
=item IO::Compress::Gzip
Write RFC 1952 files/buffers
=item IO::Compress::RawDeflate
Write RFC 1951 files/buffers
=item IO::Compress::Zip
Write zip files/buffers
=item IO::Dir
Supply object methods for directory handles
=item IO::File
Supply object methods for filehandles
=item IO::Handle
Supply object methods for I/O handles
=item IO::Pipe
Supply object methods for pipes
=item IO::Poll
Object interface to system poll call
=item IO::Seekable
Supply seek based methods for I/O objects
=item IO::Select
OO interface to the select system call
=item IO::Socket
Object interface to socket communications
=item IO::Socket::INET
Object interface for AF_INET domain sockets
=item IO::Socket::UNIX
Object interface for AF_UNIX domain sockets
=item IO::Uncompress::AnyInflate
Uncompress zlib-based (zip, gzip) file/buffer
=item IO::Uncompress::AnyUncompress
Uncompress gzip, zip, bzip2 or lzop file/buffer
=item IO::Uncompress::Base
Base Class for IO::Uncompress modules
=item IO::Uncompress::Bunzip2
Read bzip2 files/buffers
=item IO::Uncompress::Gunzip
Read RFC 1952 files/buffers
=item IO::Uncompress::Inflate
Read RFC 1950 files/buffers
=item IO::Uncompress::RawInflate
Read RFC 1951 files/buffers
=item IO::Uncompress::Unzip
Read zip files/buffers
=item IO::Zlib
IO:: style interface to L<Compress::Zlib>
=item IPC::Cmd
Finding and running system commands made easy
=item IPC::Msg
SysV Msg IPC object class
=item IPC::Open2
Open a process for both reading and writing using open2()
=item IPC::Open3
Open a process for reading, writing, and error handling using open3()
=item IPC::Semaphore
SysV Semaphore IPC object class
=item IPC::SharedMem
SysV Shared Memory IPC object class
=item IPC::SysV
System V IPC constants and system calls
=item Internals
Reserved special namespace for internals related functions
=item JSON::PP
JSON::XS compatible pure-Perl module.
=item JSON::PP::Boolean
Dummy module providing JSON::PP::Boolean
=item List::Util
A selection of general-utility list subroutines
=item List::Util::XS
Indicate if List::Util was compiled with a C compiler
=item Locale::Codes
A distribution of modules to handle locale codes
=item Locale::Codes::API
A description of the callable function in each module
=item Locale::Codes::Changes
Details changes to Locale::Codes
=item Locale::Codes::Country
Standard codes for country identification
=item Locale::Codes::Currency
Standard codes for currency identification
=item Locale::Codes::LangExt
Standard codes for language extension identification
=item Locale::Codes::LangFam
Standard codes for language extension identification
=item Locale::Codes::LangVar
Standard codes for language variation identification
=item Locale::Codes::Language
Standard codes for language identification
=item Locale::Codes::Script
Standard codes for script identification
=item Locale::Country
Standard codes for country identification
=item Locale::Currency
Standard codes for currency identification
=item Locale::Language
Standard codes for language identification
=item Locale::Maketext
Framework for localization
=item Locale::Maketext::Cookbook
Recipes for using Locale::Maketext
=item Locale::Maketext::Guts
Deprecated module to load Locale::Maketext utf8 code
=item Locale::Maketext::GutsLoader
Deprecated module to load Locale::Maketext utf8 code
=item Locale::Maketext::Simple
Simple interface to Locale::Maketext::Lexicon
=item Locale::Maketext::TPJ13
Article about software localization
=item Locale::Script
Standard codes for script identification
=item MIME::Base64
Encoding and decoding of base64 strings
=item MIME::QuotedPrint
Encoding and decoding of quoted-printable strings
=item Math::BigFloat
Arbitrary size floating point math package
=item Math::BigInt
Arbitrary size integer/float math package
=item Math::BigInt::Calc
Pure Perl module to support Math::BigInt
=item Math::BigInt::CalcEmu
Emulate low-level math with BigInt code
=item Math::BigInt::FastCalc
Math::BigInt::Calc with some XS for more speed
=item Math::BigInt::Lib
Virtual parent class for Math::BigInt libraries
=item Math::BigRat
Arbitrary big rational numbers
=item Math::Complex
Complex numbers and associated mathematical functions
=item Math::Trig
Trigonometric functions
=item Memoize
Make functions faster by trading space for time
=item Memoize::AnyDBM_File
Glue to provide EXISTS for AnyDBM_File for Storable use
=item Memoize::Expire
Plug-in module for automatic expiration of memoized values
=item Memoize::ExpireFile
Test for Memoize expiration semantics
=item Memoize::ExpireTest
Test for Memoize expiration semantics
=item Memoize::NDBM_File
Glue to provide EXISTS for NDBM_File for Storable use
=item Memoize::SDBM_File
Glue to provide EXISTS for SDBM_File for Storable use
=item Memoize::Storable
Store Memoized data in Storable database
=item Module::CoreList
What modules shipped with versions of perl
=item Module::CoreList::Utils
What utilities shipped with versions of perl
=item Module::Load
Runtime require of both modules and files
=item Module::Load::Conditional
Looking up module information / loading at runtime
=item Module::Loaded
Mark modules as loaded or unloaded
=item Module::Metadata
Gather package and POD information from perl module files
=item NDBM_File
Tied access to ndbm files
=item NEXT
Provide a pseudo-class NEXT (et al) that allows method redispatch
=item Net::Cmd
Network Command class (as used by FTP, SMTP etc)
=item Net::Config
Local configuration data for libnet
=item Net::Domain
Attempt to evaluate the current host's internet name and domain
=item Net::FTP
FTP Client class
=item Net::FTP::dataconn
FTP Client data connection class
=item Net::NNTP
NNTP Client class
=item Net::Netrc
OO interface to users netrc file
=item Net::POP3
Post Office Protocol 3 Client class (RFC1939)
=item Net::Ping
Check a remote host for reachability
=item Net::SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol Client
=item Net::Time
Time and daytime network client interface
=item Net::hostent
By-name interface to Perl's built-in gethost*() functions
=item Net::libnetFAQ
Libnet Frequently Asked Questions
=item Net::netent
By-name interface to Perl's built-in getnet*() functions
=item Net::protoent
By-name interface to Perl's built-in getproto*() functions
=item Net::servent
By-name interface to Perl's built-in getserv*() functions
=item O
Generic interface to Perl Compiler backends
=item ODBM_File
Tied access to odbm files
=item Opcode
Disable named opcodes when compiling perl code
=item POSIX
Perl interface to IEEE Std 1003.1
=item Params::Check
A generic input parsing/checking mechanism.
=item Parse::CPAN::Meta
Parse META.yml and META.json CPAN metadata files
=item Perl::OSType
Map Perl operating system names to generic types
=item PerlIO
On demand loader for PerlIO layers and root of PerlIO::* name space
=item PerlIO::encoding
Encoding layer
=item PerlIO::mmap
Memory mapped IO
=item PerlIO::scalar
In-memory IO, scalar IO
=item PerlIO::via
Helper class for PerlIO layers implemented in perl
=item PerlIO::via::QuotedPrint
PerlIO layer for quoted-printable strings
=item Pod::Checker
Check pod documents for syntax errors
=item Pod::Escapes
For resolving Pod EE<lt>...E<gt> sequences
=item Pod::Find
Find POD documents in directory trees
=item Pod::Functions
Group Perl's functions a la perlfunc.pod
=item Pod::Html
Module to convert pod files to HTML
=item Pod::InputObjects
Objects representing POD input paragraphs, commands, etc.
=item Pod::Man
Convert POD data to formatted *roff input
=item Pod::ParseLink
Parse an LE<lt>E<gt> formatting code in POD text
=item Pod::ParseUtils
Helpers for POD parsing and conversion
=item Pod::Parser
Base class for creating POD filters and translators
=item Pod::Perldoc
Look up Perl documentation in Pod format.
=item Pod::Perldoc::BaseTo
Base for Pod::Perldoc formatters
=item Pod::Perldoc::GetOptsOO
Customized option parser for Pod::Perldoc
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToANSI
Render Pod with ANSI color escapes
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToChecker
Let Perldoc check Pod for errors
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToMan
Let Perldoc render Pod as man pages
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToNroff
Let Perldoc convert Pod to nroff
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToPod
Let Perldoc render Pod as ... Pod!
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToRtf
Let Perldoc render Pod as RTF
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToTerm
Render Pod with terminal escapes
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToText
Let Perldoc render Pod as plaintext
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToTk
Let Perldoc use Tk::Pod to render Pod
=item Pod::Perldoc::ToXml
Let Perldoc render Pod as XML
=item Pod::PlainText
Convert POD data to formatted ASCII text
=item Pod::Select
Extract selected sections of POD from input
=item Pod::Simple
Framework for parsing Pod
=item Pod::Simple::Checker
Check the Pod syntax of a document
=item Pod::Simple::Debug
Put Pod::Simple into trace/debug mode
=item Pod::Simple::DumpAsText
Dump Pod-parsing events as text
=item Pod::Simple::DumpAsXML
Turn Pod into XML
=item Pod::Simple::HTML
Convert Pod to HTML
=item Pod::Simple::HTMLBatch
Convert several Pod files to several HTML files
=item Pod::Simple::LinkSection
Represent "section" attributes of L codes
=item Pod::Simple::Methody
Turn Pod::Simple events into method calls
=item Pod::Simple::PullParser
A pull-parser interface to parsing Pod
=item Pod::Simple::PullParserEndToken
End-tokens from Pod::Simple::PullParser
=item Pod::Simple::PullParserStartToken
Start-tokens from Pod::Simple::PullParser
=item Pod::Simple::PullParserTextToken
Text-tokens from Pod::Simple::PullParser
=item Pod::Simple::PullParserToken
Tokens from Pod::Simple::PullParser
=item Pod::Simple::RTF
Format Pod as RTF
=item Pod::Simple::Search
Find POD documents in directory trees
=item Pod::Simple::SimpleTree
Parse Pod into a simple parse tree
=item Pod::Simple::Subclassing
Write a formatter as a Pod::Simple subclass
=item Pod::Simple::Text
Format Pod as plaintext
=item Pod::Simple::TextContent
Get the text content of Pod
=item Pod::Simple::XHTML
Format Pod as validating XHTML
=item Pod::Simple::XMLOutStream
Turn Pod into XML
=item Pod::Text
Convert POD data to formatted text
=item Pod::Text::Color
Convert POD data to formatted color ASCII text
=item Pod::Text::Termcap
Convert POD data to ASCII text with format escapes
=item Pod::Usage
Print a usage message from embedded pod documentation
=item SDBM_File
Tied access to sdbm files
=item Safe
Compile and execute code in restricted compartments
=item Scalar::Util
A selection of general-utility scalar subroutines
=item Search::Dict
Look - search for key in dictionary file
=item SelectSaver
Save and restore selected file handle
=item SelfLoader
Load functions only on demand
=item Storable
Persistence for Perl data structures
=item Sub::Util
A selection of utility subroutines for subs and CODE references
=item Symbol
Manipulate Perl symbols and their names
=item Sys::Hostname
Try every conceivable way to get hostname
=item Sys::Syslog
Perl interface to the UNIX syslog(3) calls
=item Sys::Syslog::Win32
Win32 support for Sys::Syslog
=item TAP::Base
Base class that provides common functionality to L<TAP::Parser>
=item TAP::Formatter::Base
Base class for harness output delegates
=item TAP::Formatter::Color
Run Perl test scripts with color
=item TAP::Formatter::Console
Harness output delegate for default console output
=item TAP::Formatter::Console::ParallelSession
Harness output delegate for parallel console output
=item TAP::Formatter::Console::Session
Harness output delegate for default console output
=item TAP::Formatter::File
Harness output delegate for file output
=item TAP::Formatter::File::Session
Harness output delegate for file output
=item TAP::Formatter::Session
Abstract base class for harness output delegate
=item TAP::Harness
Run test scripts with statistics
=item TAP::Harness::Env
Parsing harness related environmental variables where appropriate
=item TAP::Object
Base class that provides common functionality to all C<TAP::*> modules
=item TAP::Parser
Parse L<TAP|Test::Harness::TAP> output
=item TAP::Parser::Aggregator
Aggregate TAP::Parser results
=item TAP::Parser::Grammar
A grammar for the Test Anything Protocol.
=item TAP::Parser::Iterator
Base class for TAP source iterators
=item TAP::Parser::Iterator::Array
Iterator for array-based TAP sources
=item TAP::Parser::Iterator::Process
Iterator for process-based TAP sources
=item TAP::Parser::Iterator::Stream
Iterator for filehandle-based TAP sources
=item TAP::Parser::IteratorFactory
Figures out which SourceHandler objects to use for a given Source
=item TAP::Parser::Multiplexer
Multiplex multiple TAP::Parsers
=item TAP::Parser::Result
Base class for TAP::Parser output objects
=item TAP::Parser::Result::Bailout
Bailout result token.
=item TAP::Parser::Result::Comment
Comment result token.
=item TAP::Parser::Result::Plan
Plan result token.
=item TAP::Parser::Result::Pragma
TAP pragma token.
=item TAP::Parser::Result::Test
Test result token.
=item TAP::Parser::Result::Unknown
Unknown result token.
=item TAP::Parser::Result::Version
TAP syntax version token.
=item TAP::Parser::Result::YAML
YAML result token.
=item TAP::Parser::ResultFactory
Factory for creating TAP::Parser output objects
=item TAP::Parser::Scheduler
Schedule tests during parallel testing
=item TAP::Parser::Scheduler::Job
A single testing job.
=item TAP::Parser::Scheduler::Spinner
A no-op job.
=item TAP::Parser::Source
A TAP source & meta data about it
=item TAP::Parser::SourceHandler
Base class for different TAP source handlers
=item TAP::Parser::SourceHandler::Executable
Stream output from an executable TAP source
=item TAP::Parser::SourceHandler::File
Stream TAP from a text file.
=item TAP::Parser::SourceHandler::Handle
Stream TAP from an IO::Handle or a GLOB.
=item TAP::Parser::SourceHandler::Perl
Stream TAP from a Perl executable
=item TAP::Parser::SourceHandler::RawTAP
Stream output from raw TAP in a scalar/array ref.
=item TAP::Parser::YAMLish::Reader
Read YAMLish data from iterator
=item TAP::Parser::YAMLish::Writer
Write YAMLish data
=item Term::ANSIColor
Color screen output using ANSI escape sequences
=item Term::Cap
Perl termcap interface
=item Term::Complete
Perl word completion module
=item Term::ReadLine
Perl interface to various C<readline> packages.
=item Test
Provides a simple framework for writing test scripts
=item Test2
Framework for writing test tools that all work together.
=item Test2::API
Primary interface for writing Test2 based testing tools.
=item Test2::API::Breakage
What breaks at what version
=item Test2::API::Context
Object to represent a testing context.
=item Test2::API::Instance
Object used by Test2::API under the hood
=item Test2::API::Stack
Object to manage a stack of L<Test2::Hub>
=item Test2::Event
Base class for events
=item Test2::Event::Bail
Bailout!
=item Test2::Event::Diag
Diag event type
=item Test2::Event::Encoding
Set the encoding for the output stream
=item Test2::Event::Exception
Exception event
=item Test2::Event::Generic
Generic event type.
=item Test2::Event::Info
Info event base class
=item Test2::Event::Note
Note event type
=item Test2::Event::Ok
Ok event type
=item Test2::Event::Plan
The event of a plan
=item Test2::Event::Skip
Skip event type
=item Test2::Event::Subtest
Event for subtest types
=item Test2::Event::TAP::Version
Event for TAP version.
=item Test2::Event::Waiting
Tell all procs/threads it is time to be done
=item Test2::Formatter
Namespace for formatters.
=item Test2::Formatter::TAP
Standard TAP formatter
=item Test2::Hub
The conduit through which all events flow.
=item Test2::Hub::Interceptor
Hub used by interceptor to grab results.
=item Test2::Hub::Interceptor::Terminator
Exception class used by
=item Test2::Hub::Subtest
Hub used by subtests
=item Test2::IPC
Turn on IPC for threading or forking support.
=item Test2::IPC::Driver
Base class for Test2 IPC drivers.
=item Test2::IPC::Driver::Files
Temp dir + Files concurrency model.
=item Test2::Tools::Tiny
Tiny set of tools for unfortunate souls who cannot use
=item Test2::Transition
Transition notes when upgrading to Test2
=item Test2::Util
Tools used by Test2 and friends.
=item Test2::Util::ExternalMeta
Allow third party tools to safely attach meta-data
=item Test2::Util::HashBase
Build hash based classes.
=item Test2::Util::Trace
Debug information for events
=item Test::Builder
Backend for building test libraries
=item Test::Builder::Formatter
Test::Builder subclass of Test2::Formatter::TAP
=item Test::Builder::IO::Scalar
A copy of IO::Scalar for Test::Builder
=item Test::Builder::Module
Base class for test modules
=item Test::Builder::Tester
Test testsuites that have been built with
=item Test::Builder::Tester::Color
Turn on colour in Test::Builder::Tester
=item Test::Builder::TodoDiag
Test::Builder subclass of Test2::Event::Diag
=item Test::Harness
Run Perl standard test scripts with statistics
=item Test::Harness::Beyond
Beyond make test
=item Test::More
Yet another framework for writing test scripts
=item Test::Simple
Basic utilities for writing tests.
=item Test::Tester
Ease testing test modules built with Test::Builder
=item Test::Tester::Capture
Help testing test modules built with Test::Builder
=item Test::Tester::CaptureRunner
Help testing test modules built with Test::Builder
=item Test::Tutorial
A tutorial about writing really basic tests
=item Test::use::ok
Alternative to Test::More::use_ok
=item Text::Abbrev
Abbrev - create an abbreviation table from a list
=item Text::Balanced
Extract delimited text sequences from strings.
=item Text::ParseWords
Parse text into an array of tokens or array of arrays
=item Text::Tabs
Expand and unexpand tabs like unix expand(1) and unexpand(1)
=item Text::Wrap
Line wrapping to form simple paragraphs
=item Thread
Manipulate threads in Perl (for old code only)
=item Thread::Queue
Thread-safe queues
=item Thread::Semaphore
Thread-safe semaphores
=item Tie::Array
Base class for tied arrays
=item Tie::File
Access the lines of a disk file via a Perl array
=item Tie::Handle
Base class definitions for tied handles
=item Tie::Hash
Base class definitions for tied hashes
=item Tie::Hash::NamedCapture
Named regexp capture buffers
=item Tie::Memoize
Add data to hash when needed
=item Tie::RefHash
Use references as hash keys
=item Tie::Scalar
Base class definitions for tied scalars
=item Tie::StdHandle
Base class definitions for tied handles
=item Tie::SubstrHash
Fixed-table-size, fixed-key-length hashing
=item Time::HiRes
High resolution alarm, sleep, gettimeofday, interval timers
=item Time::Local
Efficiently compute time from local and GMT time
=item Time::Piece
Object Oriented time objects
=item Time::Seconds
A simple API to convert seconds to other date values
=item Time::gmtime
By-name interface to Perl's built-in gmtime() function
=item Time::localtime
By-name interface to Perl's built-in localtime() function
=item Time::tm
Internal object used by Time::gmtime and Time::localtime
=item UNIVERSAL
Base class for ALL classes (blessed references)
=item Unicode::Collate
Unicode Collation Algorithm
=item Unicode::Collate::CJK::Big5
Weighting CJK Unified Ideographs
=item Unicode::Collate::CJK::GB2312
Weighting CJK Unified Ideographs
=item Unicode::Collate::CJK::JISX0208
Weighting JIS KANJI for Unicode::Collate
=item Unicode::Collate::CJK::Korean
Weighting CJK Unified Ideographs
=item Unicode::Collate::CJK::Pinyin
Weighting CJK Unified Ideographs
=item Unicode::Collate::CJK::Stroke
Weighting CJK Unified Ideographs
=item Unicode::Collate::CJK::Zhuyin
Weighting CJK Unified Ideographs
=item Unicode::Collate::Locale
Linguistic tailoring for DUCET via Unicode::Collate
=item Unicode::Normalize
Unicode Normalization Forms
=item Unicode::UCD
Unicode character database
=item User::grent
By-name interface to Perl's built-in getgr*() functions
=item User::pwent
By-name interface to Perl's built-in getpw*() functions
=item VMS::DCLsym
Perl extension to manipulate DCL symbols
=item VMS::Filespec
Convert between VMS and Unix file specification syntax
=item VMS::Stdio
Standard I/O functions via VMS extensions
=item Win32
Interfaces to some Win32 API Functions
=item Win32API::File
Low-level access to Win32 system API calls for files/dirs.
=item Win32CORE
Win32 CORE function stubs
=item XS::APItest
Test the perl C API
=item XS::Typemap
Module to test the XS typemaps distributed with perl
=item XSLoader
Dynamically load C libraries into Perl code
=item autodie::Scope::Guard
Wrapper class for calling subs at end of scope
=item autodie::Scope::GuardStack
Hook stack for managing scopes via %^H
=item autodie::Util
Internal Utility subroutines for autodie and Fatal
=item version::Internals
Perl extension for Version Objects
=back
To find out I<all> modules installed on your system, including
those without documentation or outside the standard release,
just use the following command (under the default win32 shell,
double quotes should be used instead of single quotes).
% perl -MFile::Find=find -MFile::Spec::Functions -Tlwe \
'find { wanted => sub { print canonpath $_ if /\.pm\z/ },
no_chdir => 1 }, @INC'
(The -T is here to prevent '.' from being listed in @INC.)
They should all have their own documentation installed and accessible
via your system man(1) command. If you do not have a B<find>
program, you can use the Perl B<find2perl> program instead, which
generates Perl code as output you can run through perl. If you
have a B<man> program but it doesn't find your modules, you'll have
to fix your manpath. See L<perl> for details. If you have no
system B<man> command, you might try the B<perldoc> program.
Note also that the command C<perldoc perllocal> gives you a (possibly
incomplete) list of the modules that have been further installed on
your system. (The perllocal.pod file is updated by the standard MakeMaker
install process.)
=head2 Extension Modules
Extension modules are written in C (or a mix of Perl and C). They
are usually dynamically loaded into Perl if and when you need them,
but may also be linked in statically. Supported extension modules
include Socket, Fcntl, and POSIX.
Many popular C extension modules do not come bundled (at least, not
completely) due to their sizes, volatility, or simply lack of time
for adequate testing and configuration across the multitude of
platforms on which Perl was beta-tested. You are encouraged to
look for them on CPAN (described below), or using web search engines
like Alta Vista or Google.
=head1 CPAN
CPAN stands for Comprehensive Perl Archive Network; it's a globally
replicated trove of Perl materials, including documentation, style
guides, tricks and traps, alternate ports to non-Unix systems and
occasional binary distributions for these. Search engines for
CPAN can be found at http://www.cpan.org/
Most importantly, CPAN includes around a thousand unbundled modules,
some of which require a C compiler to build. Major categories of
modules are:
=over
=item *
Language Extensions and Documentation Tools
=item *
Development Support
=item *
Operating System Interfaces
=item *
Networking, Device Control (modems) and InterProcess Communication
=item *
Data Types and Data Type Utilities
=item *
Database Interfaces
=item *
User Interfaces
=item *
Interfaces to / Emulations of Other Programming Languages
=item *
File Names, File Systems and File Locking (see also File Handles)
=item *
String Processing, Language Text Processing, Parsing, and Searching
=item *
Option, Argument, Parameter, and Configuration File Processing
=item *
Internationalization and Locale
=item *
Authentication, Security, and Encryption
=item *
World Wide Web, HTML, HTTP, CGI, MIME
=item *
Server and Daemon Utilities
=item *
Archiving and Compression
=item *
Images, Pixmap and Bitmap Manipulation, Drawing, and Graphing
=item *
Mail and Usenet News
=item *
Control Flow Utilities (callbacks and exceptions etc)
=item *
File Handle and Input/Output Stream Utilities
=item *
Miscellaneous Modules
=back
The list of the registered CPAN sites follows.
Please note that the sorting order is alphabetical on fields:
Continent
|
|-->Country
|
|-->[state/province]
|
|-->ftp
|
|-->[http]
and thus the North American servers happen to be listed between the
European and the South American sites.
Registered CPAN sites
=for maintainers
Generated by Porting/make_modlib_cpan.pl
=head2 Africa
=over 4
=item South Africa
http://mirror.is.co.za/pub/cpan/
ftp://ftp.is.co.za/pub/cpan/
http://cpan.mirror.ac.za/
ftp://cpan.mirror.ac.za/
http://cpan.saix.net/
ftp://ftp.saix.net/pub/CPAN/
http://ftp.wa.co.za/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.wa.co.za/pub/CPAN/
=item Uganda
http://mirror.ucu.ac.ug/cpan/
=item Zimbabwe
http://mirror.zol.co.zw/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.zol.co.zw/CPAN/
=back
=head2 Asia
=over 4
=item Bangladesh
http://mirror.dhakacom.com/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.dhakacom.com/CPAN/
=item China
http://cpan.communilink.net/
http://ftp.cuhk.edu.hk/pub/packages/perl/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.cuhk.edu.hk/pub/packages/perl/CPAN/
http://mirrors.hust.edu.cn/CPAN/
http://mirrors.neusoft.edu.cn/cpan/
http://mirror.lzu.edu.cn/CPAN/
http://mirrors.163.com/cpan/
http://mirrors.sohu.com/CPAN/
http://mirrors.ustc.edu.cn/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.ustc.edu.cn/CPAN/
http://mirrors.xmu.edu.cn/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.xmu.edu.cn/CPAN/
http://mirrors.zju.edu.cn/CPAN/
=item India
http://cpan.excellmedia.net/
http://perlmirror.indialinks.com/
=item Indonesia
http://kambing.ui.ac.id/cpan/
http://cpan.pesat.net.id/
http://mirror.poliwangi.ac.id/CPAN/
http://kartolo.sby.datautama.net.id/CPAN/
http://mirror.wanxp.id/cpan/
=item Iran
http://mirror.yazd.ac.ir/cpan/
=item Israel
http://biocourse.weizmann.ac.il/CPAN/
=item Japan
http://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.jre655.com/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.jre655.com/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.kddilabs.jp/CPAN/
http://ftp.nara.wide.ad.jp/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.nara.wide.ad.jp/pub/CPAN/
http://ftp.riken.jp/lang/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.riken.jp/lang/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.u-aizu.ac.jp/pub/CPAN/
http://ftp.yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp/pub/lang/cpan/
ftp://ftp.yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp/pub/lang/cpan/
=item Kazakhstan
http://mirror.neolabs.kz/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.neolabs.kz/CPAN/
=item Philippines
http://mirror.pregi.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.pregi.net/CPAN/
http://mirror.rise.ph/cpan/
ftp://mirror.rise.ph/cpan/
=item Qatar
http://mirror.qnren.qa/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.qnren.qa/CPAN/
=item Republic of Korea
http://cpan.mirror.cdnetworks.com/
ftp://cpan.mirror.cdnetworks.com/CPAN/
http://ftp.kaist.ac.kr/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.kaist.ac.kr/CPAN/
http://ftp.kr.freebsd.org/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.kr.freebsd.org/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.navercorp.com/CPAN/
http://ftp.neowiz.com/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.neowiz.com/CPAN/
=item Singapore
http://cpan.mirror.choon.net/
http://mirror.0x.sg/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.0x.sg/CPAN/
=item Taiwan
http://cpan.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/Unix/Lang/CPAN/
ftp://cpan.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/Unix/Lang/CPAN/
http://cpan.stu.edu.tw/
ftp://ftp.stu.edu.tw/CPAN/
http://ftp.yzu.edu.tw/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.yzu.edu.tw/CPAN/
http://cpan.nctu.edu.tw/
ftp://cpan.nctu.edu.tw/
http://ftp.ubuntu-tw.org/mirror/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.ubuntu-tw.org/mirror/CPAN/
=item Turkey
http://cpan.ulak.net.tr/
ftp://ftp.ulak.net.tr/pub/perl/CPAN/
http://mirror.vit.com.tr/mirror/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.vit.com.tr/CPAN/
=item Viet Nam
http://mirrors.digipower.vn/CPAN/
http://mirror.downloadvn.com/cpan/
http://mirrors.vinahost.vn/CPAN/
=back
=head2 Europe
=over 4
=item Austria
http://cpan.inode.at/
ftp://cpan.inode.at/
http://mirror.easyname.at/cpan/
ftp://mirror.easyname.at/cpan/
http://gd.tuwien.ac.at/languages/perl/CPAN/
ftp://gd.tuwien.ac.at/pub/CPAN/
=item Belarus
http://ftp.byfly.by/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.byfly.by/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.datacenter.by/pub/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.datacenter.by/pub/CPAN/
=item Belgium
http://ftp.belnet.be/ftp.cpan.org/
ftp://ftp.belnet.be/mirror/ftp.cpan.org/
http://cpan.cu.be/
http://lib.ugent.be/CPAN/
http://cpan.weepeetelecom.be/
=item Bosnia and Herzegovina
http://cpan.mirror.ba/
ftp://ftp.mirror.ba/CPAN/
=item Bulgaria
http://mirrors.neterra.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.neterra.net/CPAN/
http://mirrors.netix.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.netix.net/CPAN/
=item Croatia
http://ftp.carnet.hr/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.carnet.hr/pub/CPAN/
=item Czech Republic
http://mirror.dkm.cz/cpan/
ftp://mirror.dkm.cz/cpan/
ftp://ftp.fi.muni.cz/pub/CPAN/
http://mirrors.nic.cz/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.nic.cz/pub/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirror.vutbr.cz/
ftp://mirror.vutbr.cz/cpan/
=item Denmark
http://www.cpan.dk/
http://mirrors.dotsrc.org/cpan/
ftp://mirrors.dotsrc.org/cpan/
=item Finland
ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
=item France
http://ftp.ciril.fr/pub/cpan/
ftp://ftp.ciril.fr/pub/cpan/
http://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/mirrors/cpan/
ftp://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/mirrors/cpan/
http://ftp.lip6.fr/pub/perl/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.lip6.fr/pub/perl/CPAN/
http://mirror.ibcp.fr/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.oleane.net/pub/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirrors.ovh.net/ftp.cpan.org/
ftp://cpan.mirrors.ovh.net/ftp.cpan.org/
http://cpan.enstimac.fr/
=item Germany
http://mirror.23media.de/cpan/
ftp://mirror.23media.de/cpan/
http://artfiles.org/cpan.org/
ftp://artfiles.org/cpan.org/
http://mirror.bibleonline.ru/cpan/
http://mirror.checkdomain.de/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.checkdomain.de/CPAN/
http://cpan.noris.de/
http://mirror.de.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.de.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirror.euserv.net/
ftp://mirror.euserv.net/cpan/
http://ftp-stud.hs-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.fraunhofer.de/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.freenet.de/pub/ftp.cpan.org/pub/CPAN/
http://ftp.hosteurope.de/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.hosteurope.de/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.fu-berlin.de/unix/languages/perl/
http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
http://ftp.hawo.stw.uni-erlangen.de/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.hawo.stw.uni-erlangen.de/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirror.iphh.net/
ftp://cpan.mirror.iphh.net/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.mpi-inf.mpg.de/pub/perl/CPAN/
http://cpan.netbet.org/
http://mirror.netcologne.de/cpan/
ftp://mirror.netcologne.de/cpan/
ftp://mirror.petamem.com/CPAN/
http://www.planet-elektronik.de/CPAN/
http://ftp.halifax.rwth-aachen.de/cpan/
ftp://ftp.halifax.rwth-aachen.de/cpan/
http://mirror.softaculous.com/cpan/
http://ftp.u-tx.net/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.u-tx.net/CPAN/
http://mirror.reismil.ch/CPAN/
=item Greece
http://cpan.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/CPAN/
http://ftp.ntua.gr/pub/lang/perl/
ftp://ftp.ntua.gr/pub/lang/perl/
=item Hungary
http://mirror.met.hu/CPAN/
=item Ireland
http://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.perl.org/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.perl.org/pub/CPAN/
=item Italy
http://bo.mirror.garr.it/mirrors/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.eutelia.it/CPAN_Mirror/
http://cpan.panu.it/
ftp://ftp.panu.it/pub/mirrors/perl/CPAN/
http://cpan.muzzy.it/
=item Latvia
http://kvin.lv/pub/CPAN/
=item Lithuania
http://ftp.litnet.lt/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.litnet.lt/pub/CPAN/
=item Moldova
http://mirror.as43289.net/pub/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.as43289.net/pub/CPAN/
=item Netherlands
http://cpan.cs.uu.nl/
ftp://ftp.cs.uu.nl/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.nl.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.nl.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
http://ftp.nluug.nl/languages/perl/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
http://mirror.transip.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.transip.net/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirror.triple-it.nl/
http://ftp.tudelft.nl/cpan/
ftp://ftp.tudelft.nl/pub/CPAN/
ftp://download.xs4all.nl/pub/mirror/CPAN/
=item Norway
http://cpan.uib.no/
ftp://cpan.uib.no/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.uninett.no/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
http://cpan.vianett.no/
=item Poland
http://ftp.agh.edu.pl/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.agh.edu.pl/CPAN/
http://ftp.piotrkosoft.net/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.piotrkosoft.net/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.ps.pl/pub/CPAN/
http://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/pub/CPAN/
ftp://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/pub/CPAN/
=item Portugal
http://cpan.dcc.fc.up.pt/
http://mirrors.fe.up.pt/pub/CPAN/
http://cpan.perl-hackers.net/
http://cpan.perl.pt/
=item Romania
http://mirrors.hostingromania.ro/cpan.org/
ftp://ftp.lug.ro/CPAN/
http://mirrors.m247.ro/CPAN/
http://mirrors.evowise.com/CPAN/
http://mirrors.teentelecom.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.teentelecom.net/CPAN/
http://mirrors.xservers.ro/CPAN/
=item Russian Federation
ftp://ftp.aha.ru/CPAN/
http://cpan.rinet.ru/
ftp://cpan.rinet.ru/pub/mirror/CPAN/
http://cpan-mirror.rbc.ru/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.rol.ru/CPAN/
http://cpan.uni-altai.ru/
http://cpan.webdesk.ru/
ftp://cpan.webdesk.ru/cpan/
http://mirror.yandex.ru/mirrors/cpan/
ftp://mirror.yandex.ru/mirrors/cpan/
=item Serbia
http://mirror.sbb.rs/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.sbb.rs/CPAN/
=item Slovakia
http://cpan.lnx.sk/
http://tux.rainside.sk/CPAN/
ftp://tux.rainside.sk/CPAN/
=item Slovenia
http://ftp.arnes.si/software/perl/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/perl/CPAN/
=item Spain
http://mirrors.evowise.com/CPAN/
http://osl.ugr.es/CPAN/
http://ftp.rediris.es/mirror/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.rediris.es/mirror/CPAN/
=item Sweden
http://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/CPAN/
=item Switzerland
http://www.pirbot.com/mirrors/cpan/
http://mirror.switch.ch/ftp/mirror/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.switch.ch/mirror/CPAN/
=item Ukraine
http://cpan.ip-connect.vn.ua/
ftp://cpan.ip-connect.vn.ua/mirror/cpan/
=item United Kingdom
http://cpan.mirror.anlx.net/
ftp://ftp.mirror.anlx.net/CPAN/
http://mirror.bytemark.co.uk/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.bytemark.co.uk/CPAN/
http://mirrors.coreix.net/CPAN/
http://cpan.etla.org/
ftp://cpan.etla.org/pub/CPAN/
http://cpan.cpantesters.org/
http://mirror.sax.uk.as61049.net/CPAN/
http://mirror.sov.uk.goscomb.net/CPAN/
http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/cpan.perl.org/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.mirrorservice.org/sites/cpan.perl.org/CPAN/
http://mirror.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.cpan.org/
ftp://mirror.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.cpan.org/
http://ftp.ticklers.org/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.ticklers.org/pub/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirrors.uk2.net/
ftp://mirrors.uk2.net/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.ukhost4u.com/CPAN/
=back
=head2 North America
=over 4
=item Canada
http://CPAN.mirror.rafal.ca/
ftp://CPAN.mirror.rafal.ca/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/CPAN/
http://mirrors.gossamer-threads.com/CPAN/
http://mirror.its.dal.ca/cpan/
ftp://mirror.its.dal.ca/cpan/
ftp://ftp.ottix.net/pub/CPAN/
=item Costa Rica
http://mirrors.ucr.ac.cr/CPAN/
=item Mexico
http://www.msg.com.mx/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.msg.com.mx/pub/CPAN/
=item United States
=over 8
=item Alabama
http://mirror.teklinks.com/CPAN/
=item Arizona
http://mirror.n5tech.com/CPAN/
http://mirrors.namecheap.com/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.namecheap.com/CPAN/
=item California
http://cpan.develooper.com/
http://httpupdate127.cpanel.net/CPAN/
http://mirrors.sonic.net/cpan/
ftp://mirrors.sonic.net/cpan/
http://www.perl.com/CPAN/
http://cpan.yimg.com/
=item Idaho
http://mirrors.syringanetworks.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.syringanetworks.net/CPAN/
=item Illinois
http://cpan.mirrors.hoobly.com/
http://mirror.team-cymru.org/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.team-cymru.org/CPAN/
=item Indiana
http://cpan.netnitco.net/
ftp://cpan.netnitco.net/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.uwsg.iu.edu/pub/perl/CPAN/
=item Kansas
http://mirrors.concertpass.com/cpan/
=item Massachusetts
http://mirrors.ccs.neu.edu/CPAN/
=item Michigan
http://cpan.cse.msu.edu/
ftp://cpan.cse.msu.edu/
http://httpupdate118.cpanel.net/CPAN/
http://mirrors-usa.go-parts.com/cpan/
http://ftp.wayne.edu/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.wayne.edu/CPAN/
=item New Hampshire
http://mirror.metrocast.net/cpan/
=item New Jersey
http://mirror.datapipe.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.datapipe.net/pub/CPAN/
http://www.hoovism.com/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.hoovism.com/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirror.nac.net/
=item New York
http://mirror.cc.columbia.edu/pub/software/cpan/
ftp://mirror.cc.columbia.edu/pub/software/cpan/
http://cpan.belfry.net/
http://cpan.erlbaum.net/
ftp://cpan.erlbaum.net/CPAN/
http://cpan.hexten.net/
ftp://cpan.hexten.net/
http://mirror.nyi.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.nyi.net/pub/CPAN/
http://noodle.portalus.net/CPAN/
ftp://noodle.portalus.net/CPAN/
http://mirrors.rit.edu/CPAN/
ftp://mirrors.rit.edu/CPAN/
=item North Carolina
http://httpupdate140.cpanel.net/CPAN/
http://mirrors.ibiblio.org/CPAN/
=item Oregon
http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/CPAN/
ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.uoregon.edu/CPAN/
=item Pennsylvania
http://cpan.pair.com/
ftp://cpan.pair.com/pub/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirrors.ionfish.org/
=item South Carolina
http://cpan.mirror.clemson.edu/
=item Texas
http://mirror.uta.edu/CPAN/
=item Utah
http://cpan.cs.utah.edu/
ftp://cpan.cs.utah.edu/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.xmission.com/CPAN/
=item Virginia
http://mirror.cogentco.com/pub/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.cogentco.com/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.jmu.edu/pub/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.jmu.edu/pub/CPAN/
http://mirror.us.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.us.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
=item Washington
http://cpan.llarian.net/
ftp://cpan.llarian.net/pub/CPAN/
=item Wisconsin
http://cpan.mirrors.tds.net/
ftp://cpan.mirrors.tds.net/pub/CPAN/
=back
=back
=head2 Oceania
=over 4
=item Australia
http://mirror.as24220.net/pub/cpan/
ftp://mirror.as24220.net/pub/cpan/
http://cpan.mirrors.ilisys.com.au/
http://cpan.mirror.digitalpacific.com.au/
ftp://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/cpan/
http://mirror.optusnet.com.au/CPAN/
http://cpan.mirror.serversaustralia.com.au/
http://cpan.uberglobalmirror.com/
http://mirror.waia.asn.au/pub/cpan/
=item New Caledonia
http://cpan.lagoon.nc/pub/CPAN/
ftp://cpan.lagoon.nc/pub/CPAN/
http://cpan.nautile.nc/CPAN/
ftp://cpan.nautile.nc/CPAN/
=item New Zealand
ftp://ftp.auckland.ac.nz/pub/perl/CPAN/
http://cpan.catalyst.net.nz/CPAN/
ftp://cpan.catalyst.net.nz/pub/CPAN/
http://cpan.inspire.net.nz/
ftp://cpan.inspire.net.nz/cpan/
http://mirror.webtastix.net/CPAN/
ftp://mirror.webtastix.net/CPAN/
=back
=head2 South America
=over 4
=item Argentina
http://cpan.mmgdesigns.com.ar/
=item Brazil
http://cpan.kinghost.net/
http://linorg.usp.br/CPAN/
http://mirror.nbtelecom.com.br/CPAN/
=item Chile
http://cpan.dcc.uchile.cl/
ftp://cpan.dcc.uchile.cl/pub/lang/cpan/
=back
=head2 RSYNC Mirrors
rsync://ftp.is.co.za/IS-Mirror/ftp.cpan.org/
rsync://mirror.ac.za/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.zol.co.zw/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.dhakacom.com/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.ustc.edu.cn/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.xmu.edu.cn/CPAN/
rsync://kambing.ui.ac.id/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.jre655.com/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.kddilabs.jp/cpan/
rsync://ftp.nara.wide.ad.jp/cpan/
rsync://ftp.riken.jp/cpan/
rsync://mirror.neolabs.kz/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.qnren.qa/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.neowiz.com/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.0x.sg/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.yzu.edu.tw/pub/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.ubuntu-tw.org/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.digipower.vn/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.inode.at/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.byfly.by/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.datacenter.by/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.belnet.be/cpan/
rsync://cpan.mirror.ba/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.neterra.net/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.netix.net/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.dkm.cz/cpan/
rsync://mirrors.nic.cz/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.mirror.vutbr.cz/cpan/
rsync://rsync.nic.funet.fi/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.ciril.fr/pub/cpan/
rsync://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/mirrors/cpan/
rsync://cpan.mirrors.ovh.net/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.de.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.euserv.net/cpan/
rsync://ftp-stud.hs-esslingen.de/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.hawo.stw.uni-erlangen.de/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.mirror.iphh.net/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.netcologne.de/cpan/
rsync://ftp.halifax.rwth-aachen.de/cpan/
rsync://ftp.ntua.gr/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.met.hu/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.perl.org/pub/CPAN/
rsync://rsync.panu.it/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.as43289.net/CPAN/
rsync://rsync.cs.uu.nl/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.nl.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.nluug.nl/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.transip.net/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.uib.no/cpan/
rsync://cpan.vianett.no/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.perl-hackers.net/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.perl.pt/cpan/
rsync://mirrors.m247.ro/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.teentelecom.net/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.webdesk.ru/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.yandex.ru/mirrors/cpan/
rsync://mirror.sbb.rs/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/CPAN/
rsync://rsync.pirbot.com/ftp/cpan/
rsync://cpan.ip-connect.vn.ua/CPAN/
rsync://rsync.mirror.anlx.net/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.bytemark.co.uk/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.sax.uk.as61049.net/CPAN/
rsync://rsync.mirrorservice.org/cpan.perl.org/CPAN/
rsync://ftp.ticklers.org/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.uk2.net/CPAN/
rsync://CPAN.mirror.rafal.ca/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.namecheap.com/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.syringanetworks.net/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.team-cymru.org/CPAN/
rsync://debian.cse.msu.edu/cpan/
rsync://mirrors-usa.go-parts.com/mirrors/cpan/
rsync://rsync.hoovism.com/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.cc.columbia.edu/cpan/
rsync://noodle.portalus.net/CPAN/
rsync://mirrors.rit.edu/cpan/
rsync://mirrors.ibiblio.org/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.pair.com/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.cs.utah.edu/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.cogentco.com/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.jmu.edu/CPAN/
rsync://mirror.us.leaseweb.net/CPAN/
rsync://cpan.mirror.digitalpacific.com.au/cpan/
rsync://mirror.internode.on.net/cpan/
rsync://uberglobalmirror.com/cpan/
rsync://cpan.lagoon.nc/cpan/
rsync://mirrors.mmgdesigns.com.ar/CPAN/
For an up-to-date listing of CPAN sites,
see L<http://www.cpan.org/SITES> or L<ftp://www.cpan.org/SITES>.
=head1 Modules: Creation, Use, and Abuse
(The following section is borrowed directly from Tim Bunce's modules
file, available at your nearest CPAN site.)
Perl implements a class using a package, but the presence of a
package doesn't imply the presence of a class. A package is just a
namespace. A class is a package that provides subroutines that can be
used as methods. A method is just a subroutine that expects, as its
first argument, either the name of a package (for "static" methods),
or a reference to something (for "virtual" methods).
A module is a file that (by convention) provides a class of the same
name (sans the .pm), plus an import method in that class that can be
called to fetch exported symbols. This module may implement some of
its methods by loading dynamic C or C++ objects, but that should be
totally transparent to the user of the module. Likewise, the module
might set up an AUTOLOAD function to slurp in subroutine definitions on
demand, but this is also transparent. Only the F<.pm> file is required to
exist. See L<perlsub>, L<perlobj>, and L<AutoLoader> for details about
the AUTOLOAD mechanism.
=head2 Guidelines for Module Creation
=over 4
=item *
Do similar modules already exist in some form?
If so, please try to reuse the existing modules either in whole or
by inheriting useful features into a new class. If this is not
practical try to get together with the module authors to work on
extending or enhancing the functionality of the existing modules.
A perfect example is the plethora of packages in perl4 for dealing
with command line options.
If you are writing a module to expand an already existing set of
modules, please coordinate with the author of the package. It
helps if you follow the same naming scheme and module interaction
scheme as the original author.
=item *
Try to design the new module to be easy to extend and reuse.
Try to C<use warnings;> (or C<use warnings qw(...);>).
Remember that you can add C<no warnings qw(...);> to individual blocks
of code that need less warnings.
Use blessed references. Use the two argument form of bless to bless
into the class name given as the first parameter of the constructor,
e.g.,:
sub new {
my $class = shift;
return bless {}, $class;
}
or even this if you'd like it to be used as either a static
or a virtual method.
sub new {
my $self = shift;
my $class = ref($self) || $self;
return bless {}, $class;
}
Pass arrays as references so more parameters can be added later
(it's also faster). Convert functions into methods where
appropriate. Split large methods into smaller more flexible ones.
Inherit methods from other modules if appropriate.
Avoid class name tests like: C<die "Invalid" unless ref $ref eq 'FOO'>.
Generally you can delete the C<eq 'FOO'> part with no harm at all.
Let the objects look after themselves! Generally, avoid hard-wired
class names as far as possible.
Avoid C<< $r->Class::func() >> where using C<@ISA=qw(... Class ...)> and
C<< $r->func() >> would work.
Use autosplit so little used or newly added functions won't be a
burden to programs that don't use them. Add test functions to
the module after __END__ either using AutoSplit or by saying:
eval join('',<main::DATA>) || die $@ unless caller();
Does your module pass the 'empty subclass' test? If you say
C<@SUBCLASS::ISA = qw(YOURCLASS);> your applications should be able
to use SUBCLASS in exactly the same way as YOURCLASS. For example,
does your application still work if you change: C<< $obj = YOURCLASS->new(); >>
into: C<< $obj = SUBCLASS->new(); >> ?
Avoid keeping any state information in your packages. It makes it
difficult for multiple other packages to use yours. Keep state
information in objects.
Always use B<-w>.
Try to C<use strict;> (or C<use strict qw(...);>).
Remember that you can add C<no strict qw(...);> to individual blocks
of code that need less strictness.
Always use B<-w>.
Follow the guidelines in L<perlstyle>.
Always use B<-w>.
=item *
Some simple style guidelines
The perlstyle manual supplied with Perl has many helpful points.
Coding style is a matter of personal taste. Many people evolve their
style over several years as they learn what helps them write and
maintain good code. Here's one set of assorted suggestions that
seem to be widely used by experienced developers:
Use underscores to separate words. It is generally easier to read
$var_names_like_this than $VarNamesLikeThis, especially for
non-native speakers of English. It's also a simple rule that works
consistently with VAR_NAMES_LIKE_THIS.
Package/Module names are an exception to this rule. Perl informally
reserves lowercase module names for 'pragma' modules like integer
and strict. Other modules normally begin with a capital letter and
use mixed case with no underscores (need to be short and portable).
You may find it helpful to use letter case to indicate the scope
or nature of a variable. For example:
$ALL_CAPS_HERE constants only (beware clashes with Perl vars)
$Some_Caps_Here package-wide global/static
$no_caps_here function scope my() or local() variables
Function and method names seem to work best as all lowercase.
e.g., C<< $obj->as_string() >>.
You can use a leading underscore to indicate that a variable or
function should not be used outside the package that defined it.
=item *
Select what to export.
Do NOT export method names!
Do NOT export anything else by default without a good reason!
Exports pollute the namespace of the module user. If you must
export try to use @EXPORT_OK in preference to @EXPORT and avoid
short or common names to reduce the risk of name clashes.
Generally anything not exported is still accessible from outside the
module using the ModuleName::item_name (or C<< $blessed_ref->method >>)
syntax. By convention you can use a leading underscore on names to
indicate informally that they are 'internal' and not for public use.
(It is actually possible to get private functions by saying:
C<my $subref = sub { ... }; &$subref;>. But there's no way to call that
directly as a method, because a method must have a name in the symbol
table.)
As a general rule, if the module is trying to be object oriented
then export nothing. If it's just a collection of functions then
@EXPORT_OK anything but use @EXPORT with caution.
=item *
Select a name for the module.
This name should be as descriptive, accurate, and complete as
possible. Avoid any risk of ambiguity. Always try to use two or
more whole words. Generally the name should reflect what is special
about what the module does rather than how it does it. Please use
nested module names to group informally or categorize a module.
There should be a very good reason for a module not to have a nested name.
Module names should begin with a capital letter.
Having 57 modules all called Sort will not make life easy for anyone
(though having 23 called Sort::Quick is only marginally better :-).
Imagine someone trying to install your module alongside many others.
If you are developing a suite of related modules/classes it's good
practice to use nested classes with a common prefix as this will
avoid namespace clashes. For example: Xyz::Control, Xyz::View,
Xyz::Model etc. Use the modules in this list as a naming guide.
If adding a new module to a set, follow the original author's
standards for naming modules and the interface to methods in
those modules.
If developing modules for private internal or project specific use,
that will never be released to the public, then you should ensure
that their names will not clash with any future public module. You
can do this either by using the reserved Local::* category or by
using a category name that includes an underscore like Foo_Corp::*.
To be portable each component of a module name should be limited to
11 characters. If it might be used on MS-DOS then try to ensure each is
unique in the first 8 characters. Nested modules make this easier.
For additional guidance on the naming of modules, please consult:
http://pause.perl.org/pause/query?ACTION=pause_namingmodules
or send mail to the <module-authors@perl.org> mailing list.
=item *
Have you got it right?
How do you know that you've made the right decisions? Have you
picked an interface design that will cause problems later? Have
you picked the most appropriate name? Do you have any questions?
The best way to know for sure, and pick up many helpful suggestions,
is to ask someone who knows. The <module-authors@perl.org> mailing list
is useful for this purpose; it's also accessible via news interface as
perl.module-authors at nntp.perl.org.
All you need to do is post a short summary of the module, its
purpose and interfaces. A few lines on each of the main methods is
probably enough. (If you post the whole module it might be ignored
by busy people - generally the very people you want to read it!)
Don't worry about posting if you can't say when the module will be
ready - just say so in the message. It might be worth inviting
others to help you, they may be able to complete it for you!
=item *
README and other Additional Files.
It's well known that software developers usually fully document the
software they write. If, however, the world is in urgent need of
your software and there is not enough time to write the full
documentation please at least provide a README file containing:
=over 10
=item *
A description of the module/package/extension etc.
=item *
A copyright notice - see below.
=item *
Prerequisites - what else you may need to have.
=item *
How to build it - possible changes to Makefile.PL etc.
=item *
How to install it.
=item *
Recent changes in this release, especially incompatibilities
=item *
Changes / enhancements you plan to make in the future.
=back
If the README file seems to be getting too large you may wish to
split out some of the sections into separate files: INSTALL,
Copying, ToDo etc.
=over 4
=item *
Adding a Copyright Notice.
How you choose to license your work is a personal decision.
The general mechanism is to assert your Copyright and then make
a declaration of how others may copy/use/modify your work.
Perl, for example, is supplied with two types of licence: The GNU GPL
and The Artistic Licence (see the files README, Copying, and Artistic,
or L<perlgpl> and L<perlartistic>). Larry has good reasons for NOT
just using the GNU GPL.
My personal recommendation, out of respect for Larry, Perl, and the
Perl community at large is to state something simply like:
Copyright (c) 1995 Your Name. All rights reserved.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.
This statement should at least appear in the README file. You may
also wish to include it in a Copying file and your source files.
Remember to include the other words in addition to the Copyright.
=item *
Give the module a version/issue/release number.
To be fully compatible with the Exporter and MakeMaker modules you
should store your module's version number in a non-my package
variable called $VERSION. This should be a positive floating point
number with at least two digits after the decimal (i.e., hundredths,
e.g, C<$VERSION = "0.01">). Don't use a "1.3.2" style version.
See L<Exporter> for details.
It may be handy to add a function or method to retrieve the number.
Use the number in announcements and archive file names when
releasing the module (ModuleName-1.02.tar.Z).
See perldoc ExtUtils::MakeMaker.pm for details.
=item *
How to release and distribute a module.
If possible, register the module with CPAN. Follow the instructions
and links on:
http://www.cpan.org/modules/04pause.html
and upload to:
http://pause.perl.org/
and notify <modules@perl.org>. This will allow anyone to install
your module using the C<cpan> tool distributed with Perl.
By using the WWW interface you can ask the Upload Server to mirror
your modules from your ftp or WWW site into your own directory on
CPAN!
=item *
Take care when changing a released module.
Always strive to remain compatible with previous released versions.
Otherwise try to add a mechanism to revert to the
old behavior if people rely on it. Document incompatible changes.
=back
=back
=head2 Guidelines for Converting Perl 4 Library Scripts into Modules
=over 4
=item *
There is no requirement to convert anything.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Perl 4 library scripts should
continue to work with no problems. You may need to make some minor
changes (like escaping non-array @'s in double quoted strings) but
there is no need to convert a .pl file into a Module for just that.
=item *
Consider the implications.
All Perl applications that make use of the script will need to
be changed (slightly) if the script is converted into a module. Is
it worth it unless you plan to make other changes at the same time?
=item *
Make the most of the opportunity.
If you are going to convert the script to a module you can use the
opportunity to redesign the interface. The guidelines for module
creation above include many of the issues you should consider.
=item *
The pl2pm utility will get you started.
This utility will read *.pl files (given as parameters) and write
corresponding *.pm files. The pl2pm utilities does the following:
=over 10
=item *
Adds the standard Module prologue lines
=item *
Converts package specifiers from ' to ::
=item *
Converts die(...) to croak(...)
=item *
Several other minor changes
=back
Being a mechanical process pl2pm is not bullet proof. The converted
code will need careful checking, especially any package statements.
Don't delete the original .pl file till the new .pm one works!
=back
=head2 Guidelines for Reusing Application Code
=over 4
=item *
Complete applications rarely belong in the Perl Module Library.
=item *
Many applications contain some Perl code that could be reused.
Help save the world! Share your code in a form that makes it easy
to reuse.
=item *
Break-out the reusable code into one or more separate module files.
=item *
Take the opportunity to reconsider and redesign the interfaces.
=item *
In some cases the 'application' can then be reduced to a small
fragment of code built on top of the reusable modules. In these cases
the application could invoked as:
% perl -e 'use Module::Name; method(@ARGV)' ...
or
% perl -mModule::Name ... (in perl5.002 or higher)
=back
=head1 NOTE
Perl does not enforce private and public parts of its modules as you may
have been used to in other languages like C++, Ada, or Modula-17. Perl
doesn't have an infatuation with enforced privacy. It would prefer
that you stayed out of its living room because you weren't invited, not
because it has a shotgun.
The module and its user have a contract, part of which is common law,
and part of which is "written". Part of the common law contract is
that a module doesn't pollute any namespace it wasn't asked to. The
written contract for the module (A.K.A. documentation) may make other
provisions. But then you know when you C<use RedefineTheWorld> that
you're redefining the world and willing to take the consequences.
=cut
ex: set ro:
Mini Shell