Unsupported CPAN Modules

[Nigel Horne]

Is there something we can do about unsupported CPAN Modules, for example 
HTML::FormatData?  That module hasn't been updated since 2005, and it's 
not because it works and needs no updating, because it doesn't work.  
There are plenty of old modules like that out there.

Can we bring pressure to bear on the CPAN maintainers? For example, if a 
module results in FAIL or UNKNOWN on at least 50% (choose another figure 
if you want) of tested platforms then:

a) Users should be warned when attempting to download/install
b) CPAN maintainers should receive a notification to check said module 
with a recommendation that the author be contacted with a view to 
withdrawing it from CPAN if the author admits he/she's no longer 
maintaining it or if there is no reply.  Alternatively a request for a 
new maintainer could be posted on cpan.perl.org.

This could also raise the profile of cpan-testers.

-Nigel