use Perl

• Agreed (Score:1)

  by davebaker (4482)

  Perl already suffers from a perception of being "hard-core"; PHP has an image of being "easy-peasy" and attracts many young programmers. Let's give the new programmers an opportunity to see their name in lights (on CPAN), even if they (like most programmers) eventually shudder about over some of their code from earlier days.

  But regarding the bigger issue of quality control on CPAN, how can we reward/highlight/promote the best of the bunch?

  The Phalanx project is a big step forward in that direction, I thin
• Isn't that.... (Score:1)

  by speters (1787)

  what CPAN Ratings [perl.org] is for. If you don't like a particular module, voice you opinion. If the module is bad, chatting about on IRC without providing feedback to the author is next to worthless.
• Agreed (Score:1)

  by jmcada (5846)

  Don't filter CPAN. Only knock modules off if they have malicious intent.
  
  Instead, create bundles of the best modules. Phalanx has a bundle... anybody can post a bundle... don't filter out crap, point out the shining stars.
  
  A step further than that, I see a real business opportunity in creating a filtered mirror of CPAN modules. This mirror can contain modules that are useful, safe, and proven via tests and so fourth. Corporations will buy into a 'trusted' and 'supported' set of modules on CPAN. Thi
  • Re:Agreed - Highlight the best (Score:2)

    by TeeJay (2309)

    I'd be quite interested in a commercially supported core set on modules. I'm sure that could be very useful when you have smaller businesses with only 1 or 2 programmers and no time to evaluate, debug and test CPAN modules.
    
    The ratings site is quite useful, if underused. I'd like to see some kind of organised best-of-breed site that combines recomendations, with pointers to articles and feature comparisons...
    
    Yes I was on #london.pm, yes I too muttered about bloody stupid modules, but also the number of times

    --
    
    @JAPH = qw(Hacker Perl Another Just);
    print reverse @JAPH;
    • Re:Agreed - Highlight the best (Score:1)

      by GAVollink (5690)

      Late in mentioning... but doesn't ActiveState fit the "commercially supported core set on modules". They certainly sell themselves that way (even if I only use them on WinTel).

      On the topic of stupid modules... User naiveity, more often than not, is the cause of crap. The whole "My situation is unique, so I'll code and upload my own quick and incomplete solution without looking to see if something else comes close," attitude.

      Luckily, by virtue of the amount of energy it takes, it's relatively rare. At l
• ironic (Score:2)

  by hfb (74)

  when one considers that much of the Acme namespace comes from London not to mention it's namesake is a memeber of London.pm as well. The depths of uncleverness found in the Acme namespace alone far outweigh some poor sod who wants to upload his first module unwittingly though I blame certain perl books that encourage the readers to upload their homework to CPAN.
• OMG CRAP (Score:1)

  by sungo (640)

  This may surprise you but I totally agree. CPAN is full of crap. Not just intentionally useless crap, there are lots of broken, unmaintained modules out there. What oh what should we do about it? There are two reasonable actions here. 1) In the case of amusing but useless modules (including those you don't find amusing but someone else does), fucking get over it. 2) In the case of unmaintained, broken modules, take it over. We all should be getting off our asses and trying to make the CPAN a better place,
• Don't change CPAN, just change your view of it. (Score:2)

  by schwern (1528)

  Build your own index of modules (CPAN/modules/02packages.details.txt.gz) using whatever criteria you like and make it publicly available. Hack the CPAN shell to get its index from your site while downloading from a real CPAN mirror.