Mark GardnerAug 16, 2025

Hey #CPAN authors, you have Opinions on how to best develop and package #Perl modules. What's the best way in 2025?

I've used Dist::Zilla, but there are other options that might encourage contributors who don't use it. What are they?

I'm using a plain ExtUtils::MakeMaker-based setup for https://metacpan.org/dist/Log-Any-Adapter-MacOS-OSLog, but keeping prerequisites and version numbers in sync is a chore. I'd like to adopt a better workflow for my other dists.

Log-Any-Adapter-MacOS-OSLog-v0.0.1

log to macOS' unified logging system

MetaCPAN
Show threadMark Gardner

Sorry to all the #dzil haters, but in the end I'm going back to Dist::Zilla for this and my other #Perl #CPAN distributions. I tried the alternatives, but they all failed me for one reason or another.

And in the end, it's just hard to argue with a negative line count delta.

The good news is that I've got it configured to maintain build/main and build/release branches that one can fork and contribute to without having to install all my dependencies.

I think I feel another blog post coming on.

Aug 17, 2025 at 6:03amWeb
Show threadMark GardnerAug 17, 2025

Et voilà, the latest version of my #Perl module and script for writing to the #macOS Unified Log, no #ObjectiveC or #Swift required!

* #CPAN: https://metacpan.org/dist/Log-Any-Adapter-MacOS-OSLog
* source on #Codeberg: https://codeberg.org/mjgardner/perl-Log-Any-Adapter-MacOS-OSLog

The contributing guide tells you all you need to know about how to develop this module either with #DistZilla or without: https://metacpan.org/dist/Log-Any-Adapter-MacOS-OSLog/contribute

/ @Codeberg @metacpan

#DZil #Mac #programming #coding #SoftwareDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering #Codeberg

Log-Any-Adapter-MacOS-OSLog-v0.0.1

log to macOS' unified logging system

MetaCPAN
Show threadDemiguiseAug 17, 2025
@mjg @Codeberg @metacpan Oh, it is possible to host the source code for CPAN modules elsewhere than GitHub? 👀
Show threadMark GardnerAug 17, 2025
@demiguise @Codeberg @metacpan You can host a repo anywhere or not at all. There are plenty of #Perl modules whose *only* public source is #CPAN; patches may be submitted via email, RT, or the author may not accept contributions at all.
Show threadDemiguiseAug 17, 2025
@mjg @Codeberg @metacpan Wow, pretty cool! Thank you for the details. Just today, I learned how mailing lists work for contributions while reading "Pro Git" 😅
Show threadChristiaan KrasAug 17, 2025
@mjg looking forward to that post. I maintain a couple of low maintenance modules and at least one of them uses dzil, but I can never remember how it works, what steps to take etc. To be fair the same goes for the ones that don’t use it.
Show threadTimothy LeggeAug 17, 2025
@mjg I have been slowly moving my modules to Dist::Zilla. It helps me ensure that I don't miss steps. My only issue is that they are all a bit of a mishmash of plugins at the moment. I really need to figure out the author bundles...
Show threadMark GardnerAug 17, 2025
@timlegge I also have ambitions of an author bundle, especially since I now have a configuration that enables both DZil and plain contributors.