Distributions
Learn about distributions in Perl.
A distribution is a collection of metadata and modules in a single redistributable, testable, and installable unit.
The easiest way to configure, build, package, test, and install Perl code is to follow the CPAN’s conventions. These conventions govern:
- How to package a distribution.
- How to resolve its dependencies.
- Where to install the code and documentation.
- How to verify that it works.
- How to display documentation.
- How to manage a repository.
These guidelines have arisen from the rough consensus of thousands of contributors working on tens of thousands of projects.
Perl’s secret weapon
A distribution built to CPAN standards can be tested on several versions of Perl on several different hardware platforms within a few hours of its uploading, with errors reported automatically to authors—all without human intervention. When people talk about CPAN being Perl’s secret weapon, this is what they mean.
We may choose never to release any of our code as public CPAN distributions, but we can use CPAN tools and conventions to manage even private code. The Perl community has built an amazing infrastructure. Take advantage of it.
Attributes of a distribution
Besides modules, a distribution includes several files and directories:
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