perl-CPAN

Query, download and build perl modules from CPAN sites

The CPAN module automates or at least simplifies the make and install of perl modules and extensions. It includes some primitive searching capabilities and knows how to use LWP, HTTP::Tiny, Net::FTP and certain external download clients to fetch distributions from the net. These are fetched from one or more mirrored CPAN (Comprehensive Perl Archive Network) sites and unpacked in a dedicated directory. The CPAN module also supports named and versioned _bundles_ of modules. Bundles simplify handling of sets of related modules. See Bundles below. The package contains a session manager and a cache manager. The session manager keeps track of what has been fetched, built, and installed in the current session. The cache manager keeps track of the disk space occupied by the make processes and deletes excess space using a simple FIFO mechanism. All methods provided are accessible in a programmer style and in an interactive shell style.