On Wed, Mar 06, 2002 at 11:08:13AM -0500, Adekunle Olonoh wrote:
> 
> > I've attached a new module (very small) called CPAN::Grab.
> 
> This is a really great idea.  I could've used something like this not
> too long ago. 
> 

This could be very useful.

> 
> > - Should MakeMaker be aware of it?
> 
> I think this could be very helpful, except you have to determine how
> deep to go.  If my module Foo requires Bar and Bar requires Baz, then
> will it download Baz too? 
> 
> Similarly, what do you think about using CPAN::Grab to also download
> prerequisites of the modules you initially specify?  This should be
> optional of course, but might be helpful as the point is targeting the
> bundle for systems that aren't using the CPAN.pm shell.  Without CPAN.pm
> they loose the functionality of being able to download prerequisites
> automatically. 
> 

I would  like to  see the  perl MakeMaker install  process be  able to
break the entire installation of the module with its dependencies into
separate phases such as download, analysis, build and installation.

By integrating  the MakeMaker, CPAN and  CPAN::Grab in this  way, if a
dependent  module cannot  be installed,  e.g.  a  required third-party
package is not installed, a clean rollback process is in place and the
dependencies are clearly documented.   One could also execute only the
download  and   analysis  phases  to   verify  the  presence   of  all
requirements, too, before attempting a complete installation.

I don't  believe MakeMaker currently has  the hooks built  into it for
this kind of sophisticated module maintenance.

> 
> > - Is CPAN::Grab is the right name?
> 
> How about CPAN::Bundler?  Grab doesn't seem descriptive enough.  CPAN.pm
> "grabs" modules already, but this module does more than that. 
> 

CPAN::Grab  would  probably be  appropriate  if  such  a scheme  as  I
described is  attempted because CPAN::Grab  would then become  a small
component of the entire system.

Robert Lehr
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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