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PERLMODLIB(1)	       Perl Programmers Reference Guide 	 PERLMODLIB(1)



NAME
       perlmodlib - constructing new Perl modules and finding existing ones

THE PERL MODULE LIBRARY
       Many modules are included in the Perl distribution.  These are
       described below, and all end in .pm.  You may discover compiled library
       files (usually ending in .so) or small pieces of modules to be
       autoloaded (ending in .al); these were automatically generated by the
       installation process.  You may also discover files in the library
       directory that end in either .pl or .ph.  These are old libraries sup
       plied so that old programs that use them still run.  The .pl files will
       all eventually be converted into standard modules, and the .ph files
       made by h2ph will probably end up as extension modules made by h2xs.
       (Some .ph values may already be available through the POSIX, Errno, or
       Fcntl modules.)	The pl2pm file in the distribution may help in your
       conversion, but its just a mechanical process and therefore far from
       bulletproof.

       Pragmatic Modules

       They work somewhat like compiler directives (pragmata) in that they
       tend to affect the compilation of your program, and thus will usually
       work well only when used within a "use", or "no".  Most of these are
       lexically scoped, so an inner BLOCK may countermand them by saying:

	   no integer;
	   no strict refs;
	   no warnings;

       which lasts until the end of that BLOCK.

       Some pragmas are lexically scoped--typically those that affect the $^H
       hints variable.	Others affect the current package instead, like "use
       vars" and "use subs", which allow you to predeclare a variables or sub
       routines within a particular file rather than just a block.  Such dec
       larations are effective for the entire file for which they were
       declared.  You cannot rescind them with "no vars" or "no subs".

       The following pragmas are defined (and have their own documentation).

       attributes  Get/set subroutine or variable attributes

       attrs	   Set/get attributes of a subroutine (deprecated)

       autouse	   Postpone load of modules until a function is used

       base	   Establish IS-A relationship with base classes at compile
		   time

       bigint	   Transparent BigInteger support for Perl

       bignum	   Transparent BigNumber support for Perl

       bigrat	   Transparent BigNumber/BigRational support for Perl

       blib	   Use MakeMakers uninstalled version of a package

       bytes	   Force byte semantics rather than character semantics

       charnames   Define character names for "\N{named}" string literal
		   escapes

       constant    Declare constants

       diagnostics Produce verbose warning diagnostics

       encoding    Allows you to write your script in non-ascii or non-utf8

       fields	   Compile-time class fields

       filetest    Control the filetest permission operators

       if	   "use" a Perl module if a condition holds

       integer	   Use integer arithmetic instead of floating point

       less	   Request less of something from the compiler

       lib	   Manipulate @INC at compile time

       locale	   Use and avoid POSIX locales for built-in operations

       open	   Set default PerlIO layers for input and output

       ops	   Restrict unsafe operations when compiling

       overload    Package for overloading Perl operations

       re	   Alter regular expression behaviour

       sigtrap	   Enable simple signal handling

       sort	   Control sort() behaviour

       strict	   Restrict unsafe constructs

       subs	   Predeclare sub names

       threads	   Perl extension allowing use of interpreter based threads
		   from perl

       threads::shared
		   Perl extension for sharing data structures between threads

       utf8	   Enable/disable UTF-8 (or UTF-EBCDIC) in source code

       vars	   Predeclare global variable names (obsolete)

       vmsish	   Control VMS-specific language features

       warnings    Control optional warnings

       warnings::register
		   Warnings import function

       Standard Modules

       Standard, bundled modules are all expected to behave in a well-defined
       manner with respect to namespace pollution because they use the
       Exporter module.  See their own documentation for details.

       Its possible that not all modules listed below are installed on your
       system. For example, the GDBM_File module will not be installed if you
       dont have the gdbm library.

       AnyDBM_File Provide framework for multiple DBMs

       Attribute::Handlers
		   Simpler definition of attribute handlers

       AutoLoader  Load subroutines only on demand

       AutoSplit   Split a package for autoloading

       B	   The Perl Compiler

       B::Asmdata  Autogenerated data about Perl ops, used to generate byte
		   code

       B::Assembler
		   Assemble Perl bytecode

       B::Bblock   Walk basic blocks

       B::Bytecode Perl compilers bytecode backend

       B::C	   Perl compilers C backend

       B::CC	   Perl compilers optimized C translation backend

       B::Concise  Walk Perl syntax tree, printing concise info about ops

       B::Debug    Walk Perl syntax tree, printing debug info about ops

       B::Deparse  Perl compiler backend to produce perl code

       B::Disassembler
		   Disassemble Perl bytecode

       B::Lint	   Perl lint

       B::Showlex  Show lexical variables used in functions or files

       B::Stackobj Helper module for CC backend

       B::Stash    Show what stashes are loaded

       B::Terse    Walk Perl syntax tree, printing terse info about ops

       B::Xref	   Generates cross reference reports for Perl programs

       Benchmark   Benchmark running times of Perl code

       ByteLoader  Load byte compiled perl code

       CGI	   Simple Common Gateway Interface Class

       CGI::Apache Backward compatibility module for CGI.pm

       CGI::Carp   CGI routines for writing to the HTTPD (or other) error log

       CGI::Cookie Interface to Netscape Cookies

       CGI::Fast   CGI Interface for Fast CGI

       CGI::Pretty Module to produce nicely formatted HTML code

       CGI::Push   Simple Interface to Server Push

       CGI::Switch Backward compatibility module for defunct CGI::Switch

       CGI::Util   Internal utilities used by CGI module

       CPAN	   Query, download and build perl modules from CPAN sites

       CPAN::FirstTime
		   Utility for CPAN::Config file Initialization

       CPAN::Nox   Wrapper around CPAN.pm without using any XS module

       CPAN::Version
		   Utility functions to compare CPAN versions

       Carp	   Warn of errors (from perspective of caller)

       Carp::Heavy Heavy machinery, no user serviceable parts inside

       Class::ISA  Report the search path for a classs ISA tree

       Class::Struct
		   Declare struct-like datatypes as Perl classes

       Config	   Access Perl configuration information

       Cwd	   Get pathname of current working directory

       DB	   Programmatic interface to the Perl debugging API (draft,
		   subject to

       DBM_Filter  Filter DBM keys/values

       DB_File	   Perl5 access to Berkeley DB version 1.x

       Data::Dumper
		   Stringified perl data structures, suitable for both print
		   ing and "eval"

       Devel::DProf
		   A Perl code profiler

       Devel::PPPort
		   Perl/Pollution/Portability

       Devel::Peek A data debugging tool for the XS programmer

       Devel::SelfStubber
		   Generate stubs for a SelfLoading module

       Digest	   Modules that calculate message digests

       Digest::MD5 Perl interface to the MD5 Algorithm

       Digest::base
		   Digest base class

       Digest::file
		   Calculate digests of files

       DirHandle   Supply object methods for directory handles

       Dumpvalue   Provides screen dump of Perl data.

       DynaLoader  Dynamically load C libraries into Perl code

       Encode	   Character encodings

       Encode::Alias
		   Alias definitions to encodings

       Encode::Byte
		   Single Byte Encodings

       Encode::CJKConstants
		   Internally used by Encode::??::ISO_2022_*

       Encode::CN  China-based Chinese Encodings

       Encode::CN::HZ
		   Internally used by Encode::CN

       Encode::Config
		   Internally used by Encode

       Encode::EBCDIC
		   EBCDIC Encodings

       Encode::Encoder
		   Object Oriented Encoder

       Encode::Encoding
		   Encode Implementation Base Class

       Encode::Guess
		   Guesses encoding from data

       Encode::JP  Japanese Encodings

       Encode::JP::H2Z
		   Internally used by Encode::JP::2022_JP*

       Encode::JP::JIS7
		   Internally used by Encode::JP

       Encode::KR  Korean Encodings

       Encode::KR::2022_KR
		   Internally used by Encode::KR

       Encode::MIME::Header
		   MIME B and Q header encoding

       Encode::PerlIO
		   A detailed document on Encode and PerlIO

       Encode::Supported
		   Encodings supported by Encode

       Encode::Symbol
		   Symbol Encodings

       Encode::TW  Taiwan-based Chinese Encodings

       Encode::Unicode
		   Various Unicode Transformation Formats

       Encode::Unicode::UTF7
		   UTF-7 encoding

       English	   Use nice English (or awk) names for ugly punctuation vari
		   ables

       Env	   Perl module that imports environment variables as scalars
		   or arrays

       Errno	   System errno constants

       Exporter    Implements default import method for modules

       Exporter::Heavy
		   Exporter guts

       ExtUtils::Command
		   Utilities to replace common UNIX commands in Makefiles etc.

       ExtUtils::Command::MM
		   Commands for the MMs to use in Makefiles

       ExtUtils::Constant
		   Generate XS code to import C header constants

       ExtUtils::Constant::Base
		   Base class for ExtUtils::Constant objects

       ExtUtils::Constant::Utils
		   Helper functions for ExtUtils::Constant

       ExtUtils::Constant::XS
		   Base class for ExtUtils::Constant objects

       ExtUtils::Embed
		   Utilities for embedding Perl in C/C++ applications

       ExtUtils::Install
		   Install files from here to there

       ExtUtils::Installed
		   Inventory management of installed modules

       ExtUtils::Liblist
		   Determine libraries to use and how to use them

       ExtUtils::MM
		   OS adjusted ExtUtils::MakeMaker subclass

       ExtUtils::MM_AIX
		   AIX specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix

       ExtUtils::MM_Any
		   Platform-agnostic MM methods

       ExtUtils::MM_BeOS
		   Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MM_Cygwin
		   Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MM_DOS
		   DOS specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix

       ExtUtils::MM_MacOS
		   Once produced Makefiles for MacOS Classic

       ExtUtils::MM_NW5
		   Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MM_OS2
		   Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MM_QNX
		   QNX specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix

       ExtUtils::MM_UWIN
		   U/WIN specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix

       ExtUtils::MM_Unix
		   Methods used by ExtUtils::MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MM_VMS
		   Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MM_VOS
		   VOS specific subclass of ExtUtils::MM_Unix

       ExtUtils::MM_Win32
		   Methods to override UN*X behaviour in ExtUtils::MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MM_Win95
		   Method to customize MakeMaker for Win9X

       ExtUtils::MY
		   ExtUtils::MakeMaker subclass for customization

       ExtUtils::MakeMaker
		   Create a module Makefile

       ExtUtils::MakeMaker::Config
		   Wrapper around Config.pm

       ExtUtils::MakeMaker::FAQ
		   Frequently Asked Questions About MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MakeMaker::Tutorial
		   Writing a module with MakeMaker

       ExtUtils::MakeMaker::bytes
		   Version-agnostic bytes.pm

       ExtUtils::MakeMaker::vmsish
		   Platform-agnostic vmsish.pm

       ExtUtils::Manifest
		   Utilities to write and check a MANIFEST file

       ExtUtils::Mkbootstrap
		   Make a bootstrap file for use by DynaLoader

       ExtUtils::Mksymlists
		   Write linker options files for dynamic extension

       ExtUtils::Packlist
		   Manage .packlist files

       ExtUtils::testlib
		   Add blib/* directories to @INC

       Fatal	   Replace functions with equivalents which succeed or die

       Fcntl	   Load the C Fcntl.h defines

       File::Basename
		   Parse file paths into directory, filename and suffix.

       File::CheckTree
		   Run many filetest checks on a tree

       File::Compare
		   Compare files or filehandles

       File::Copy  Copy files or filehandles

       File::DosGlob
		   DOS like globbing and then some

       File::Find  Traverse a directory tree.

       File::Glob  Perl extension for BSD glob routine

       File::Path  Create or remove directory trees

       File::Spec  Portably perform operations on file names

       File::Spec::Cygwin
		   Methods for Cygwin file specs

       File::Spec::Epoc
		   Methods for Epoc file specs

       File::Spec::Functions
		   Portably perform operations on file names

       File::Spec::Mac
		   File::Spec for Mac OS (Classic)

       File::Spec::OS2
		   Methods for OS/2 file specs

       File::Spec::Unix
		   File::Spec for Unix, base for other File::Spec modules

       File::Spec::VMS
		   Methods for VMS file specs

       File::Spec::Win32
		   Methods for Win32 file specs

       File::Temp  Return name and handle of a temporary file safely

       File::stat  By-name interface to Perls built-in stat() functions

       FileCache   Keep more files open than the system permits

       FileHandle  Supply object methods for filehandles

       Filter::Simple
		   Simplified source filtering

       Filter::Util::Call
		   Perl Source Filter Utility Module

       FindBin	   Locate directory of original perl script

       GDBM_File   Perl5 access to the gdbm library.

       Getopt::Long
		   Extended processing of command line options

       Getopt::Std Process single-character switches with switch clustering

       Hash::Util  A selection of general-utility hash subroutines

       I18N::Collate
		   Compare 8-bit scalar data according to the current locale

       I18N::LangTags
		   Functions for dealing with RFC3066-style language tags

       I18N::LangTags::Detect
		   Detect the users language preferences

       I18N::LangTags::List
		   Tags and names for human languages

       I18N::Langinfo
		   Query locale information

       IO	   Load various IO modules

       IO::Dir	   Supply object methods for directory handles

       IO::File    Supply object methods for filehandles

       IO::Handle  Supply object methods for I/O handles

       IO::Pipe    Supply object methods for pipes

       IO::Poll    Object interface to system poll call

       IO::Seekable
		   Supply seek based methods for I/O objects

       IO::Select  OO interface to the select system call

       IO::Socket  Object interface to socket communications

       IO::Socket::INET
		   Object interface for AF_INET domain sockets

       IO::Socket::UNIX
		   Object interface for AF_UNIX domain sockets

       IPC::Open2  Open a process for both reading and writing

       IPC::Open3  Open a process for reading, writing, and error handling

       IPC::SysV   SysV IPC constants

       IPC::SysV::Msg
		   SysV Msg IPC object class

       IPC::SysV::Semaphore
		   SysV Semaphore IPC object class

       List::Util  A selection of general-utility list subroutines

       Locale::Constants
		   Constants for Locale codes

       Locale::Country
		   ISO codes for country identification (ISO 3166)

       Locale::Currency
		   ISO three letter codes for currency identification (ISO
		   4217)

       Locale::Language
		   ISO two letter codes for language identification (ISO 639)

       Locale::Maketext
		   Framework for localization

       Locale::Maketext::TPJ13
		   Article about software localization

       Locale::Script
		   ISO codes for script identification (ISO 15924)

       MIME::Base64
		   Encoding and decoding of base64 strings

       MIME::Base64::QuotedPrint
		   Encoding and decoding of quoted-printable strings

       Math::BigFloat
		   Arbitrary size floating point math package

       Math::BigInt
		   Arbitrary size integer/float math package

       Math::BigInt::Calc
		   Pure Perl module to support Math::BigInt

       Math::BigInt::CalcEmu
		   Emulate low-level math with BigInt code

       Math::BigRat
		   Arbitrary big rational numbers

       Math::Complex
		   Complex numbers and associated mathematical functions

       Math::Trig  Trigonometric functions

       Memoize	   Make functions faster by trading space for time

       Memoize::AnyDBM_File
		   Glue to provide EXISTS for AnyDBM_File for Storable use

       Memoize::Expire
		   Plug-in module for automatic expiration of memoized values

       Memoize::ExpireFile
		   Test for Memoize expiration semantics

       Memoize::ExpireTest
		   Test for Memoize expiration semantics

       Memoize::NDBM_File
		   Glue to provide EXISTS for NDBM_File for Storable use

       Memoize::SDBM_File
		   Glue to provide EXISTS for SDBM_File for Storable use

       Memoize::Storable
		   Store Memoized data in Storable database

       NDBM_File   Tied access to ndbm files

       NEXT	   Provide a pseudo-class NEXT (et al) that allows method
		   redispatch

       Net::Cmd    Network Command class (as used by FTP, SMTP etc)

       Net::Config Local configuration data for libnet

       Net::Domain Attempt to evaluate the current hosts internet name and
		   domain

       Net::FTP    FTP Client class

       Net::NNTP   NNTP Client class

       Net::Netrc  OO interface to users netrc file

       Net::POP3   Post Office Protocol 3 Client class (RFC1939)

       Net::Ping   Check a remote host for reachability

       Net::SMTP   Simple Mail Transfer Protocol Client

       Net::Time   Time and daytime network client interface

       Net::hostent
		   By-name interface to Perls built-in gethost*() functions

       Net::libnetFAQ
		   Libnet Frequently Asked Questions

       Net::netent By-name interface to Perls built-in getnet*() functions

       Net::protoent
		   By-name interface to Perls built-in getproto*() functions

       Net::servent
		   By-name interface to Perls built-in getserv*() functions

       O	   Generic interface to Perl Compiler backends

       ODBM_File   Tied access to odbm files

       Opcode	   Disable named opcodes when compiling perl code

       POSIX	   Perl interface to IEEE Std 1003.1

       PerlIO	   On demand loader for PerlIO layers and root of PerlIO::*
		   name space

       PerlIO::encoding
		   Encoding layer

       PerlIO::scalar
		   In-memory IO, scalar IO

       PerlIO::via Helper class for PerlIO layers implemented in perl

       PerlIO::via::QuotedPrint
		   PerlIO layer for quoted-printable strings

       Pod::Checker
		   Check pod documents for syntax errors

       Pod::Find   Find POD documents in directory trees

       Pod::Functions
		   Group Perls functions a la perlfunc.pod

       Pod::Html   Module to convert pod files to HTML

       Pod::InputObjects
		   Objects representing POD input paragraphs, commands, etc.

       Pod::LaTeX  Convert Pod data to formatted Latex

       Pod::Man    Convert POD data to formatted *roff input

       Pod::ParseLink
		   Parse an L<> formatting code in POD text

       Pod::ParseUtils
		   Helpers for POD parsing and conversion

       Pod::Parser Base class for creating POD filters and translators

       Pod::Perldoc::ToChecker
		   Let Perldoc check Pod for errors

       Pod::Perldoc::ToMan
		   Let Perldoc render Pod as man pages

       Pod::Perldoc::ToNroff
		   Let Perldoc convert Pod to nroff

       Pod::Perldoc::ToPod
		   Let Perldoc render Pod as ... Pod!

       Pod::Perldoc::ToRtf
		   Let Perldoc render Pod as RTF

       Pod::Perldoc::ToText
		   Let Perldoc render Pod as plaintext

       Pod::Perldoc::ToTk
		   Let Perldoc use Tk::Pod to render Pod

       Pod::Perldoc::ToXml
		   Let Perldoc render Pod as XML

       Pod::PlainText
		   Convert POD data to formatted ASCII text

       Pod::Plainer
		   Perl extension for converting Pod to old style Pod.

       Pod::Select Extract selected sections of POD from input

       Pod::Text   Convert POD data to formatted ASCII text

       Pod::Text::Color
		   Convert POD data to formatted color ASCII text

       Pod::Text::Overstrike
		   Convert POD data to formatted overstrike text

       Pod::Text::Termcap
		   Convert POD data to ASCII text with format escapes

       Pod::Usage  Print a usage message from embedded pod documentation

       SDBM_File   Tied access to sdbm files

       Safe	   Compile and execute code in restricted compartments

       Scalar::Util
		   A selection of general-utility scalar subroutines

       Search::Dict
		   Search for key in dictionary file

       SelectSaver Save and restore selected file handle

       SelfLoader  Load functions only on demand

       Shell	   Run shell commands transparently within perl

       Socket	   Load the C socket.h defines and structure manipulators

       Storable    Persistence for Perl data structures

       Switch	   A switch statement for Perl

       Symbol	   Manipulate Perl symbols and their names

       Sys::Hostname
		   Try every conceivable way to get hostname

       Sys::Syslog Perl interface to the UNIX syslog(3) calls

       Term::ANSIColor
		   Color screen output using ANSI escape sequences

       Term::Cap   Perl termcap interface

       Term::Complete
		   Perl word completion module

       Term::ReadLine
		   Perl interface to various "readline" packages.

       Test	   Provides a simple framework for writing test scripts

       Test::Builder
		   Backend for building test libraries

       Test::Builder::Module
		   Base class for test modules

       Test::Builder::Tester
		   Test testsuites that have been built with

       Test::Builder::Tester::Color
		   Turn on colour in Test::Builder::Tester

       Test::Harness
		   Run Perl standard test scripts with statistics

       Test::Harness::Assert
		   Simple assert

       Test::Harness::Iterator
		   Internal Test::Harness Iterator

       Test::Harness::Point
		   Object for tracking a single test point

       Test::Harness::Straps
		   Detailed analysis of test results

       Test::Harness::TAP
		   Documentation for the TAP format

       Test::More  Yet another framework for writing test scripts

       Test::Simple
		   Basic utilities for writing tests.

       Test::Tutorial
		   A tutorial about writing really basic tests

       Text::Abbrev
		   Create an abbreviation table from a list

       Text::Balanced
		   Extract delimited text sequences from strings.

       Text::ParseWords
		   Parse text into an array of tokens or array of arrays

       Text::Soundex
		   Implementation of the Soundex Algorithm as Described by
		   Knuth

       Text::Tabs  Expand and unexpand tabs per the unix expand(1) and unex
		   pand(1)

       Text::Wrap  Line wrapping to form simple paragraphs

       Thread	   Manipulate threads in Perl (for old code only)

       Thread::Queue
		   Thread-safe queues

       Thread::Semaphore
		   Thread-safe semaphores

       Thread::Signal
		   Start a thread which runs signal handlers reliably (for old
		   code)

       Thread::Specific
		   Thread-specific keys

       Tie::Array  Base class for tied arrays

       Tie::File   Access the lines of a disk file via a Perl array

       Tie::Handle Base class definitions for tied handles

       Tie::Hash   Base class definitions for tied hashes

       Tie::Memoize
		   Add data to hash when needed

       Tie::RefHash
		   Use references as hash keys

       Tie::Scalar Base class definitions for tied scalars

       Tie::SubstrHash
		   Fixed-table-size, fixed-key-length hashing

       Time::HiRes High resolution alarm, sleep, gettimeofday, interval timers

       Time::Local Efficiently compute time from local and GMT time

       Time::gmtime
		   By-name interface to Perls built-in gmtime() function

       Time::localtime
		   By-name interface to Perls built-in localtime() function

       Time::tm    Internal object used by Time::gmtime and Time::localtime

       UNIVERSAL   Base class for ALL classes (blessed references)

       Unicode::Collate
		   Unicode Collation Algorithm

       Unicode::Normalize
		   Unicode Normalization Forms

       Unicode::UCD
		   Unicode character database

       User::grent By-name interface to Perls built-in getgr*() functions

       User::pwent By-name interface to Perls built-in getpw*() functions

       XS::APItest Test the perl C API

       XS::Typemap Module to test the XS typemaps distributed with perl

       XSLoader    Dynamically load C libraries into Perl code

       To find out all modules installed on your system, including those with
       out documentation or outside the standard release, just use the follow
       ing command (under the default win32 shell, double quotes should be
       used instead of single quotes).

	   % perl -MFile::Find=find -MFile::Spec::Functions -Tlwe \
	     find { wanted => sub { print canonpath $_ if /\.pm\z/ },
	     no_chdir => 1 }, @INC

       (The -T is here to prevent . from being listed in @INC.)  They should
       all have their own documentation installed and accessible via your sys
       tem man(1) command.  If you do not have a find program, you can use the
       Perl find2perl program instead, which generates Perl code as output you
       can run through perl.  If you have a man program but it doesnt find
       your modules, youll have to fix your manpath.  See perl for details.
       If you have no system man command, you might try the perldoc program.

       Note also that the command "perldoc perllocal" gives you a (possibly
       incomplete) list of the modules that have been further installed on
       your system. (The perllocal.pod file is updated by the standard Make
       Maker install process.)

       Extension Modules

       Extension modules are written in C (or a mix of Perl and C).  They are
       usually dynamically loaded into Perl if and when you need them, but may
       also be linked in statically.  Supported extension modules include
       Socket, Fcntl, and POSIX.

       Many popular C extension modules do not come bundled (at least, not
       completely) due to their sizes, volatility, or simply lack of time for
       adequate testing and configuration across the multitude of platforms on
       which Perl was beta-tested.  You are encouraged to look for them on
       CPAN (described below), or using web search engines like Alta Vista or
       Google.

CPAN
       CPAN stands for Comprehensive Perl Archive Network; its a globally
       replicated trove of Perl materials, including documentation, style
       guides, tricks and traps, alternate ports to non-Unix systems and occa
       sional binary distributions for these.	Search engines for CPAN can be
       found at http://www.cpan.org/

       Most importantly, CPAN includes around a thousand unbundled modules,
       some of which require a C compiler to build.  Major categories of mod
       ules are:

	  Language Extensions and Documentation Tools

	  Development Support

	  Operating System Interfaces

	  Networking, Device Control (modems) and InterProcess Communication

	  Data Types and Data Type Utilities

	  Database Interfaces

	  User Interfaces

	  Interfaces to / Emulations of Other Programming Languages

	  File Names, File Systems and File Locking (see also File Handles)

	  String Processing, Language Text Processing, Parsing, and Searching

	  Option, Argument, Parameter, and Configuration File Processing

	  Internationalization and Locale

	  Authentication, Security, and Encryption

	  World Wide Web, HTML, HTTP, CGI, MIME

	  Server and Daemon Utilities

	  Archiving and Compression

	  Images, Pixmap and Bitmap Manipulation, Drawing, and Graphing

	  Mail and Usenet News

	  Control Flow Utilities (callbacks and exceptions etc)

	  File Handle and Input/Output Stream Utilities

	  Miscellaneous Modules

       The list of the registered CPAN sites as of this writing follows.
       Please note that the sorting order is alphabetical on fields:

       Continent
	  |
	  |-->Country
		|
		|-->[state/province]
			  |
			  |-->ftp
			  |
			  |-->[http]

       and thus the North American servers happen to be listed between the
       European and the South American sites.

       You should try to choose one close to you.

       Africa


       South Africa
				 http://ftp.rucus.ru.ac.za/pub/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.rucus.ru.ac.za/pub/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.is.co.za/programming/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.saix.net/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.sun.ac.za/CPAN/CPAN/

       Asia


       China
				 http://cpan.linuxforum.net/
				 http://cpan.shellhung.org/
				 ftp://ftp.shellhung.org/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://mirrors.hknet.com/CPAN

       Indonesia
				 http://mirrors.tf.itb.ac.id/cpan/
				 http://cpan.cbn.net.id/
				 ftp://ftp.cbn.net.id/mirror/CPAN

       Israel
				 ftp://ftp.iglu.org.il/pub/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.lerner.co.il/
				 http://bioinfo.weizmann.ac.il/pub/software/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://bioinfo.weizmann.ac.il/pub/software/perl/CPAN/

       Japan
				 ftp://ftp.u-aizu.ac.jp/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.kddlabs.co.jp/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.ayamura.org/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/lang/perl/CPAN/
				 http://ftp.cpan.jp/
				 ftp://ftp.cpan.jp/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.dti.ad.jp/pub/lang/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.ring.gr.jp/pub/lang/perl/CPAN/

       Malaysia
				 http://cpan.MyBSD.org.my
				 http://mirror.leafbug.org/pub/CPAN
				 http://ossig.mncc.com.my/mirror/pub/CPAN

       Russian Federation
				 http://cpan.tomsk.ru
				 ftp://cpan.tomsk.ru/

       Saudi Arabia
				 ftp://ftp.isu.net.sa/pub/CPAN/

       Singapore
				 http://CPAN.en.com.sg/
				 ftp://cpan.en.com.sg/
				 http://mirror.averse.net/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://mirror.averse.net/pub/CPAN
				 http://cpan.oss.eznetsols.org
				 ftp://ftp.oss.eznetsols.org/cpan

       South Korea
				 http://CPAN.bora.net/
				 ftp://ftp.bora.net/pub/CPAN/
				 http://mirror.kr.FreeBSD.org/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.kr.FreeBSD.org/pub/CPAN

       Taiwan
				 ftp://ftp.nctu.edu.tw/UNIX/perl/CPAN
				 http://cpan.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/
				 ftp://cpan.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/pub/CPAN
				 http://ftp.isu.edu.tw/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.isu.edu.tw/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp1.sinica.edu.tw/pub1/perl/CPAN/
				 http://ftp.tku.edu.tw/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.tku.edu.tw/pub/CPAN/

       Thailand
				 ftp://ftp.loxinfo.co.th/pub/cpan/
				 ftp://ftp.cs.riubon.ac.th/pub/mirrors/CPAN/

       Central America


       Costa Rica
				 http://ftp.ucr.ac.cr/Unix/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.ucr.ac.cr/pub/Unix/CPAN/

       Europe


       Austria
				 http://cpan.inode.at/
				 ftp://cpan.inode.at
				 ftp://ftp.tuwien.ac.at/pub/CPAN/

       Belgium
				 http://ftp.easynet.be/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.easynet.be/pub/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.skynet.be
				 ftp://ftp.cpan.skynet.be/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.kulnet.kuleuven.ac.be/pub/mirror/CPAN/

       Bosnia and Herzegovina
				 http://cpan.blic.net/

       Bulgaria
				 http://cpan.online.bg
				 ftp://cpan.online.bg/cpan
				 http://cpan.zadnik.org
				 ftp://ftp.zadnik.org/mirrors/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.lirex.net/
				 ftp://ftp.lirex.net/pub/mirrors/CPAN

       Croatia
				 http://ftp.linux.hr/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.linux.hr/pub/CPAN/

       Czech Republic
				 ftp://ftp.fi.muni.cz/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://sunsite.mff.cuni.cz/MIRRORS/ftp.funet.fi/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/

       Denmark
				 http://mirrors.sunsite.dk/cpan/
				 ftp://sunsite.dk/mirrors/cpan/
				 http://cpan.cybercity.dk
				 http://www.cpan.dk/CPAN/
				 ftp://www.cpan.dk/ftp.cpan.org/CPAN/

       Estonia
				 ftp://ftp.ut.ee/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/

       Finland
				 ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
				 http://mirror.eunet.fi/CPAN

       France
				 http://www.enstimac.fr/Perl/CPAN
				 http://ftp.u-paris10.fr/perl/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.u-paris10.fr/perl/CPAN
				 http://cpan.mirrors.easynet.fr/
				 ftp://cpan.mirrors.easynet.fr/pub/ftp.cpan.org/
				 ftp://ftp.club-internet.fr/pub/perl/CPAN/
				 http://fr.cpan.org/
				 ftp://ftp.lip6.fr/pub/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.oleane.net/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.pasteur.fr/pub/computing/CPAN/
				 http://mir2.ovh.net/ftp.cpan.org
				 ftp://mir1.ovh.net/ftp.cpan.org
				 http://ftp.crihan.fr/mirrors/ftp.cpan.org/
				 ftp://ftp.crihan.fr/mirrors/ftp.cpan.org/
				 http://ftp.u-strasbg.fr/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.u-strasbg.fr/CPAN
				 ftp://cpan.cict.fr/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.uvsq.fr/pub/perl/CPAN/

       Germany
				 ftp://ftp.rub.de/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.freenet.de/pub/ftp.cpan.org/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.uni-erlangen.de/pub/source/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp-stud.fht-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/CPAN
				 http://pandemonium.tiscali.de/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://pandemonium.tiscali.de/pub/CPAN/
				 http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.uni-hamburg.de/pub/soft/lang/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.leo.org/pub/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.noris.de/
				 ftp://cpan.noris.de/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.mpi-sb.mpg.de/pub/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.gmd.de/mirrors/CPAN/

       Greece
				 ftp://ftp.acn.gr/pub/lang/perl
				 ftp://ftp.forthnet.gr/pub/languages/perl/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.ntua.gr/pub/lang/perl/

       Hungary
				 http://ftp.kfki.hu/packages/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.kfki.hu/pub/packages/perl/CPAN/

       Iceland
				 http://ftp.rhnet.is/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.rhnet.is/pub/CPAN/

       Ireland
				 http://cpan.indigo.ie/
				 ftp://cpan.indigo.ie/pub/CPAN/
				 http://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.perl.org/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.perl.org/pub/CPAN
				 http://sunsite.compapp.dcu.ie/pub/perl/
				 ftp://sunsite.compapp.dcu.ie/pub/perl/

       Italy
				 http://cpan.nettuno.it/
				 http://gusp.dyndns.org/CPAN/
				 ftp://gusp.dyndns.org/pub/CPAN
				 http://softcity.iol.it/cpan
				 ftp://softcity.iol.it/pub/cpan
				 ftp://ftp.unina.it/pub/Other/CPAN/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.unipi.it/pub/mirror/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://cis.uniRoma2.it/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.edisontel.it/pub/CPAN_Mirror/
				 http://cpan.flashnet.it/
				 ftp://ftp.flashnet.it/pub/CPAN/

       Latvia
				 http://kvin.lv/pub/CPAN/

       Lithuania
				 ftp://ftp.unix.lt/pub/CPAN/

       Netherlands
				 ftp://download.xs4all.nl/pub/mirror/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.nl.uu.net/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.cybercomm.nl/
				 ftp://mirror.cybercomm.nl/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://mirror.vuurwerk.nl/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.cpan.nl/pub/CPAN/
				 http://ftp.easynet.nl/mirror/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.easynet.nl/mirror/CPAN
				 http://archive.cs.uu.nl/mirror/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.cs.uu.nl/mirror/CPAN/

       Norway
				 ftp://ftp.uninett.no/pub/languages/perl/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.uit.no/pub/languages/perl/cpan/

       Poland
				 ftp://ftp.mega.net.pl/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.man.torun.pl/pub/doc/CPAN/
				 ftp://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/pub/CPAN/

       Portugal
				 ftp://ftp.ua.pt/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://perl.di.uminho.pt/pub/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.dei.uc.pt/
				 ftp://ftp.dei.uc.pt/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.nfsi.pt/pub/CPAN
				 http://ftp.linux.pt/pub/mirrors/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.linux.pt/pub/mirrors/CPAN
				 http://cpan.ip.pt/
				 ftp://cpan.ip.pt/pub/cpan/
				 http://cpan.telepac.pt/
				 ftp://ftp.telepac.pt/pub/cpan/

       Romania
				 ftp://ftp.bio-net.ro/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.kappa.ro/pub/mirrors/ftp.perl.org/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.lug.ro/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.roedu.net/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.dntis.ro/pub/cpan/
				 ftp://ftp.iasi.roedu.net/pub/mirrors/ftp.cpan.org/
				 http://cpan.ambra.ro/
				 ftp://ftp.ambra.ro/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.dnttm.ro/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.lasting.ro/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.timisoara.roedu.net/mirrors/CPAN/

       Russia
				 ftp://ftp.chg.ru/pub/lang/perl/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.rinet.ru/
				 ftp://cpan.rinet.ru/pub/mirror/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.aha.ru/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.corbina.ru/pub/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.sai.msu.ru/
				 ftp://ftp.sai.msu.su/pub/lang/perl/CPAN/

       Slovakia
				 ftp://ftp.cvt.stuba.sk/pub/CPAN/

       Slovenia
				 ftp://ftp.arnes.si/software/perl/CPAN/

       Spain
				 http://cpan.imasd.elmundo.es/
				 ftp://ftp.rediris.es/mirror/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.ri.telefonica-data.net/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.etse.urv.es/pub/perl/

       Sweden
				 http://ftp.du.se/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.du.se/pub/CPAN/
				 http://mirror.dataphone.se/CPAN
				 ftp://mirror.dataphone.se/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/lang/perl/CPAN/

       Switzerland
				 http://cpan.mirror.solnet.ch/
				 ftp://ftp.solnet.ch/mirror/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.danyk.ch/CPAN/
				 ftp://sunsite.cnlab-switch.ch/mirror/CPAN/

       Turkey
				 http://ftp.ulak.net.tr/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.ulak.net.tr/perl/CPAN
				 ftp://sunsite.bilkent.edu.tr/pub/languages/CPAN/

       Ukraine
				 http://cpan.org.ua/
				 ftp://cpan.org.ua/
				 ftp://ftp.perl.org.ua/pub/CPAN/
				 http://no-more.kiev.ua/CPAN/
				 ftp://no-more.kiev.ua/pub/CPAN/

       United Kingdom
				 http://www.mirror.ac.uk/sites/ftp.funet.fi/pub/languages/perl/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.mirror.ac.uk/sites/ftp.funet.fi/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.teleglobe.net/
				 ftp://cpan.teleglobe.net/pub/CPAN
				 http://cpan.mirror.anlx.net/
				 ftp://ftp.mirror.anlx.net/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.etla.org/
				 ftp://cpan.etla.org/pub/CPAN
				 ftp://ftp.demon.co.uk/pub/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.m.flirble.org/
				 ftp://ftp.flirble.org/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.plig.org/pub/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.hambule.co.uk/
				 http://cpan.mirrors.clockerz.net/
				 ftp://ftp.clockerz.net/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://usit.shef.ac.uk/pub/packages/CPAN/

       North America


       Canada
	   Alberta
					 http://cpan.sunsite.ualberta.ca/
					 ftp://cpan.sunsite.ualberta.ca/pub/CPAN/

	   Manitoba
					 http://theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca/pub/CPAN/
					 ftp://theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca/pub/CPAN/

	   Nova Scotia
					 ftp://cpan.chebucto.ns.ca/pub/CPAN/

	   Ontario
					 ftp://ftp.nrc.ca/pub/CPAN/

       Mexico
				 http://cpan.azc.uam.mx
				 ftp://cpan.azc.uam.mx/mirrors/CPAN
				 http://www.cpan.unam.mx/
				 ftp://ftp.unam.mx/pub/CPAN
				 http://www.msg.com.mx/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.msg.com.mx/pub/CPAN/

       United States
	   Alabama
					 http://mirror.hiwaay.net/CPAN/
					 ftp://mirror.hiwaay.net/CPAN/

	   California
					 http://cpan.develooper.com/
					 http://www.cpan.org/
					 ftp://cpan.valueclick.com/pub/CPAN/
					 http://www.mednor.net/ftp/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
					 ftp://ftp.mednor.net/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
					 http://mirrors.gossamer-threads.com/CPAN
					 ftp://cpan.nas.nasa.gov/pub/perl/CPAN/
					 http://mirrors.kernel.org/cpan/
					 ftp://mirrors.kernel.org/pub/CPAN
					 http://cpan-sj.viaverio.com/
					 ftp://cpan-sj.viaverio.com/pub/CPAN/
					 http://cpan.digisle.net/
					 ftp://cpan.digisle.net/pub/CPAN
					 http://www.perl.com/CPAN/
					 http://www.uberlan.net/CPAN

	   Colorado
					 ftp://ftp.cs.colorado.edu/pub/perl/CPAN/
					 http://cpan.four10.com

	   Delaware
					 http://ftp.lug.udel.edu/pub/CPAN
					 ftp://ftp.lug.udel.edu/pub/CPAN

	   District of Columbia
					 ftp://ftp.dc.aleron.net/pub/CPAN/

	   Florida
					 ftp://ftp.cise.ufl.edu/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
					 http://mirror.csit.fsu.edu/pub/CPAN/
					 ftp://mirror.csit.fsu.edu/pub/CPAN/
					 http://cpan.mirrors.nks.net/

	   Indiana
					 ftp://ftp.uwsg.iu.edu/pub/perl/CPAN/
					 http://cpan.netnitco.net/
					 ftp://cpan.netnitco.net/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
					 http://archive.progeny.com/CPAN/
					 ftp://archive.progeny.com/CPAN/
					 http://fx.saintjoe.edu/pub/CPAN
					 ftp://ftp.saintjoe.edu/pub/CPAN
					 http://csociety-ftp.ecn.purdue.edu/pub/CPAN
					 ftp://csociety-ftp.ecn.purdue.edu/pub/CPAN

	   Kentucky
					 http://cpan.uky.edu/
					 ftp://cpan.uky.edu/pub/CPAN/
					 http://slugsite.louisville.edu/cpan
					 ftp://slugsite.louisville.edu/CPAN

	   Massachusetts
					 http://mirrors.towardex.com/CPAN
					 ftp://mirrors.towardex.com/pub/CPAN
					 ftp://ftp.ccs.neu.edu/net/mirrors/ftp.funet.fi/pub/languages/perl/CPAN/

	   Michigan
					 ftp://cpan.cse.msu.edu/
					 http://cpan.calvin.edu/pub/CPAN
					 ftp://cpan.calvin.edu/pub/CPAN

	   Nevada
					 http://www.oss.redundant.com/pub/CPAN
					 ftp://www.oss.redundant.com/pub/CPAN

	   New Jersey
					 http://ftp.cpanel.net/pub/CPAN/
					 ftp://ftp.cpanel.net/pub/CPAN/
					 http://cpan.teleglobe.net/
					 ftp://cpan.teleglobe.net/pub/CPAN

	   New York
					 http://cpan.belfry.net/
					 http://cpan.erlbaum.net/
					 ftp://cpan.erlbaum.net/
					 http://cpan.thepirtgroup.com/
					 ftp://cpan.thepirtgroup.com/
					 ftp://ftp.stealth.net/pub/CPAN/
					 http://www.rge.com/pub/languages/perl/
					 ftp://ftp.rge.com/pub/languages/perl/

	   North Carolina
					 http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/languages/perl/CPAN
					 ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/languages/perl/CPAN
					 ftp://ftp.duke.edu/pub/perl/
					 ftp://ftp.ncsu.edu/pub/mirror/CPAN/

	   Oklahoma
					 ftp://ftp.ou.edu/mirrors/CPAN/

	   Oregon
					 ftp://ftp.orst.edu/pub/CPAN

	   Pennsylvania
					 http://ftp.epix.net/CPAN/
					 ftp://ftp.epix.net/pub/languages/perl/
					 http://mirrors.phenominet.com/pub/CPAN/
					 ftp://mirrors.phenominet.com/pub/CPAN/
					 http://cpan.pair.com/
					 ftp://cpan.pair.com/pub/CPAN/
					 ftp://carroll.cac.psu.edu/pub/CPAN/

	   Tennessee
					 ftp://ftp.sunsite.utk.edu/pub/CPAN/

	   Texas
					 http://ftp.sedl.org/pub/mirrors/CPAN/
					 http://www.binarycode.org/cpan
					 ftp://mirror.telentente.com/pub/CPAN
					 http://mirrors.theonlinerecordstore.com/CPAN

	   Utah
					 ftp://mirror.xmission.com/CPAN/

	   Virginia
					 http://cpan-du.viaverio.com/
					 ftp://cpan-du.viaverio.com/pub/CPAN/
					 http://mirrors.rcn.net/pub/lang/CPAN/
					 ftp://mirrors.rcn.net/pub/lang/CPAN/
					 http://perl.secsup.org/
					 ftp://perl.secsup.org/pub/perl/
					 http://noc.cvaix.com/mirrors/CPAN/

	   Washington
					 http://cpan.llarian.net/
					 ftp://cpan.llarian.net/pub/CPAN/
					 http://cpan.mirrorcentral.com/
					 ftp://ftp.mirrorcentral.com/pub/CPAN/
					 ftp://ftp-mirror.internap.com/pub/CPAN/

	   Wisconsin
					 http://mirror.sit.wisc.edu/pub/CPAN/
					 ftp://mirror.sit.wisc.edu/pub/CPAN/
					 http://mirror.aphix.com/CPAN
					 ftp://mirror.aphix.com/pub/CPAN

       Oceania


       Australia
				 http://ftp.planetmirror.com/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.planetmirror.com/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/perl/CPAN/
				 ftp://cpan.topend.com.au/pub/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.mirrors.ilisys.com.au

       New Zealand
				 ftp://ftp.auckland.ac.nz/pub/perl/CPAN/

       United States
				 http://aniani.ifa.hawaii.edu/CPAN/
				 ftp://aniani.ifa.hawaii.edu/CPAN/

       South America


       Argentina
				 ftp://mirrors.bannerlandia.com.ar/mirrors/CPAN/
				 http://www.linux.org.ar/mirrors/cpan
				 ftp://ftp.linux.org.ar/mirrors/cpan

       Brazil
				 ftp://cpan.pop-mg.com.br/pub/CPAN/
				 ftp://ftp.matrix.com.br/pub/perl/CPAN/
				 http://cpan.hostsul.com.br/
				 ftp://cpan.hostsul.com.br/

       Chile
				 http://cpan.netglobalis.net/
				 ftp://cpan.netglobalis.net/pub/CPAN/

       RSYNC Mirrors

			     www.linux.org.ar::cpan
			     theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca::CPAN
			     ftp.shellhung.org::CPAN
			     rsync.nic.funet.fi::CPAN
			     ftp.u-paris10.fr::CPAN
			     mir1.ovh.net::CPAN
			     rsync://ftp.crihan.fr::CPAN
			     ftp.gwdg.de::FTP/languages/perl/CPAN/
			     ftp.leo.org::CPAN
			     ftp.cbn.net.id::CPAN
			     rsync://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.perl.org/pub/CPAN
			     ftp.iglu.org.il::CPAN
			     gusp.dyndns.org::cpan
			     ftp.kddlabs.co.jp::cpan
			     ftp.ayamura.org::pub/CPAN/
			     mirror.leafbug.org::CPAN
			     rsync.en.com.sg::CPAN
			     mirror.averse.net::cpan
			     rsync.oss.eznetsols.org
			     ftp.kr.FreeBSD.org::CPAN
			     ftp.solnet.ch::CPAN
			     cpan.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw::CPAN
			     cpan.teleglobe.net::CPAN
			     rsync://rsync.mirror.anlx.net::CPAN
			     ftp.sedl.org::cpan
			     ibiblio.org::CPAN
			     cpan-du.viaverio.com::CPAN
			     aniani.ifa.hawaii.edu::CPAN
			     archive.progeny.com::CPAN
			     rsync://slugsite.louisville.edu::CPAN
			     mirror.aphix.com::CPAN
			     cpan.teleglobe.net::CPAN
			     ftp.lug.udel.edu::cpan
			     mirrors.kernel.org::mirrors/CPAN
			     mirrors.phenominet.com::CPAN
			     cpan.pair.com::CPAN
			     cpan-sj.viaverio.com::CPAN
			     mirror.csit.fsu.edu::CPAN
			     csociety-ftp.ecn.purdue.edu::CPAN

       For an up-to-date listing of CPAN sites, see http://www.cpan.org/SITES
       or ftp://www.cpan.org/SITES .

Modules: Creation, Use, and Abuse
       (The following section is borrowed directly from Tim Bunces modules
       file, available at your nearest CPAN site.)

       Perl implements a class using a package, but the presence of a package
       doesnt imply the presence of a class.  A package is just a namespace.
       A class is a package that provides subroutines that can be used as
       methods.  A method is just a subroutine that expects, as its first
       argument, either the name of a package (for "static" methods), or a
       reference to something (for "virtual" methods).

       A module is a file that (by convention) provides a class of the same
       name (sans the .pm), plus an import method in that class that can be
       called to fetch exported symbols.  This module may implement some of
       its methods by loading dynamic C or C++ objects, but that should be
       totally transparent to the user of the module.  Likewise, the module
       might set up an AUTOLOAD function to slurp in subroutine definitions on
       demand, but this is also transparent.  Only the .pm file is required to
       exist.  See perlsub, perltoot, and AutoLoader for details about the
       AUTOLOAD mechanism.

       Guidelines for Module Creation


	  Do similar modules already exist in some form?

	   If so, please try to reuse the existing modules either in whole or
	   by inheriting useful features into a new class.  If this is not
	   practical try to get together with the module authors to work on
	   extending or enhancing the functionality of the existing modules.
	   A perfect example is the plethora of packages in perl4 for dealing
	   with command line options.

	   If you are writing a module to expand an already existing set of
	   modules, please coordinate with the author of the package.  It
	   helps if you follow the same naming scheme and module interaction
	   scheme as the original author.

	  Try to design the new module to be easy to extend and reuse.

	   Try to "use warnings;" (or "use warnings qw(...);").  Remember that
	   you can add "no warnings qw(...);" to individual blocks of code
	   that need less warnings.

	   Use blessed references.  Use the two argument form of bless to
	   bless into the class name given as the first parameter of the con
	   structor, e.g.,:

	    sub new {
		my $class = shift;
		return bless {}, $class;
	    }

	   or even this if youd like it to be used as either a static or a
	   virtual method.

	    sub new {
		my $self  = shift;
		my $class = ref($self) || $self;
		return bless {}, $class;
	    }

	   Pass arrays as references so more parameters can be added later
	   (its also faster).  Convert functions into methods where appropri
	   ate.  Split large methods into smaller more flexible ones.  Inherit
	   methods from other modules if appropriate.

	   Avoid class name tests like: "die "Invalid" unless ref $ref eq
	   FOO".  Generally you can delete the "eq FOO" part with no harm
	   at all.  Let the objects look after themselves! Generally, avoid
	   hard-wired class names as far as possible.

	   Avoid "$r->Class::func()" where using "@ISA=qw(... Class ...)" and
	   "$r->func()" would work (see perlbot for more details).

	   Use autosplit so little used or newly added functions wont be a
	   burden to programs that dont use them. Add test functions to the
	   module after __END__ either using AutoSplit or by saying:

	    eval join(,) || die $@ unless caller();

	   Does your module pass the empty subclass test? If you say "@SUB
	   CLASS::ISA = qw(YOURCLASS);" your applications should be able to
	   use SUBCLASS in exactly the same way as YOURCLASS.  For example,
	   does your application still work if you change:  "$obj = new YOUR
	   CLASS;" into: "$obj = new SUBCLASS;" ?

	   Avoid keeping any state information in your packages. It makes it
	   difficult for multiple other packages to use yours. Keep state
	   information in objects.

	   Always use -w.

	   Try to "use strict;" (or "use strict qw(...);").  Remember that you
	   can add "no strict qw(...);" to individual blocks of code that need
	   less strictness.

	   Always use -w.

	   Follow the guidelines in the perlstyle(1) manual.

	   Always use -w.

	  Some simple style guidelines

	   The perlstyle manual supplied with Perl has many helpful points.

	   Coding style is a matter of personal taste. Many people evolve
	   their style over several years as they learn what helps them write
	   and maintain good code.  Heres one set of assorted suggestions
	   that seem to be widely used by experienced developers:

	   Use underscores to separate words.  It is generally easier to read
	   $var_names_like_this than $VarNamesLikeThis, especially for non-
	   native speakers of English. Its also a simple rule that works con
	   sistently with VAR_NAMES_LIKE_THIS.

	   Package/Module names are an exception to this rule. Perl informally
	   reserves lowercase module names for pragma modules like integer
	   and strict. Other modules normally begin with a capital letter and
	   use mixed case with no underscores (need to be short and portable).

	   You may find it helpful to use letter case to indicate the scope or
	   nature of a variable. For example:

	    $ALL_CAPS_HERE   constants only (beware clashes with Perl vars)
	    $Some_Caps_Here  package-wide global/static
	    $no_caps_here    function scope my() or local() variables

	   Function and method names seem to work best as all lowercase.
	   e.g., "$obj->as_string()".

	   You can use a leading underscore to indicate that a variable or
	   function should not be used outside the package that defined it.

	  Select what to export.

	   Do NOT export method names!

	   Do NOT export anything else by default without a good reason!

	   Exports pollute the namespace of the module user.  If you must
	   export try to use @EXPORT_OK in preference to @EXPORT and avoid
	   short or common names to reduce the risk of name clashes.

	   Generally anything not exported is still accessible from outside
	   the module using the ModuleName::item_name (or
	   "$blessed_ref->method") syntax.  By convention you can use a lead
	   ing underscore on names to indicate informally that they are
	   internal and not for public use.

	   (It is actually possible to get private functions by saying: "my
	   $subref = sub { ... };  &$subref;".	But theres no way to call
	   that directly as a method, because a method must have a name in the
	   symbol table.)

	   As a general rule, if the module is trying to be object oriented
	   then export nothing. If its just a collection of functions then
	   @EXPORT_OK anything but use @EXPORT with caution.

	  Select a name for the module.

	   This name should be as descriptive, accurate, and complete as pos
	   sible.  Avoid any risk of ambiguity. Always try to use two or more
	   whole words.  Generally the name should reflect what is special
	   about what the module does rather than how it does it.  Please use
	   nested module names to group informally or categorize a module.
	   There should be a very good reason for a module not to have a
	   nested name.  Module names should begin with a capital letter.

	   Having 57 modules all called Sort will not make life easy for any
	   one (though having 23 called Sort::Quick is only marginally better
	   :-).  Imagine someone trying to install your module alongside many
	   others.  If in any doubt ask for suggestions in
	   comp.lang.perl.misc.

	   If you are developing a suite of related modules/classes its good
	   practice to use nested classes with a common prefix as this will
	   avoid namespace clashes. For example: Xyz::Control, Xyz::View,
	   Xyz::Model etc. Use the modules in this list as a naming guide.

	   If adding a new module to a set, follow the original authors stan
	   dards for naming modules and the interface to methods in those mod
	   ules.

	   If developing modules for private internal or project specific use,
	   that will never be released to the public, then you should ensure
	   that their names will not clash with any future public module. You
	   can do this either by using the reserved Local::* category or by
	   using a category name that includes an underscore like Foo_Corp::*.

	   To be portable each component of a module name should be limited to
	   11 characters. If it might be used on MS-DOS then try to ensure
	   each is unique in the first 8 characters. Nested modules make this
	   easier.

	  Have you got it right?

	   How do you know that youve made the right decisions? Have you
	   picked an interface design that will cause problems later? Have you
	   picked the most appropriate name? Do you have any questions?

	   The best way to know for sure, and pick up many helpful sugges
	   tions, is to ask someone who knows. Comp.lang.perl.misc is read by
	   just about all the people who develop modules and its the best
	   place to ask.

	   All you need to do is post a short summary of the module, its pur
	   pose and interfaces. A few lines on each of the main methods is
	   probably enough. (If you post the whole module it might be ignored
	   by busy people - generally the very people you want to read it!)

	   Dont worry about posting if you cant say when the module will be
	   ready - just say so in the message. It might be worth inviting oth
	   ers to help you, they may be able to complete it for you!

	  README and other Additional Files.

	   Its well known that software developers usually fully document the
	   software they write. If, however, the world is in urgent need of
	   your software and there is not enough time to write the full docu
	   mentation please at least provide a README file containing:

		    A description of the module/package/extension etc.

		    A copyright notice - see below.

		    Prerequisites - what else you may need to have.

		    How to build it - possible changes to Makefile.PL etc.

		    How to install it.

		    Recent changes in this release, especially incompatibili
		     ties

		    Changes / enhancements you plan to make in the future.

	   If the README file seems to be getting too large you may wish to
	   split out some of the sections into separate files: INSTALL, Copy
	   ing, ToDo etc.

	      Adding a Copyright Notice.

	       How you choose to license your work is a personal decision.
	       The general mechanism is to assert your Copyright and then make
	       a declaration of how others may copy/use/modify your work.

	       Perl, for example, is supplied with two types of licence: The
	       GNU GPL and The Artistic Licence (see the files README, Copy
	       ing, and Artistic, or perlgpl and perlartistic).  Larry has
	       good reasons for NOT just using the GNU GPL.

	       My personal recommendation, out of respect for Larry, Perl, and
	       the Perl community at large is to state something simply like:

		Copyright (c) 1995 Your Name. All rights reserved.
		This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
		modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.

	       This statement should at least appear in the README file. You
	       may also wish to include it in a Copying file and your source
	       files.  Remember to include the other words in addition to the
	       Copyright.

	      Give the module a version/issue/release number.

	       To be fully compatible with the Exporter and MakeMaker modules
	       you should store your modules version number in a non-my pack
	       age variable called $VERSION.  This should be a floating point
	       number with at least two digits after the decimal (i.e., hun
	       dredths, e.g, "$VERSION = "0.01"").  Dont use a "1.3.2" style
	       version.  See Exporter for details.

	       It may be handy to add a function or method to retrieve the
	       number.	Use the number in announcements and archive file names
	       when releasing the module (ModuleName-1.02.tar.Z).  See perldoc
	       ExtUtils::MakeMaker.pm for details.

	      How to release and distribute a module.

	       Its good idea to post an announcement of the availability of
	       your module (or the module itself if small) to the
	       comp.lang.perl.announce Usenet newsgroup.  This will at least
	       ensure very wide once-off distribution.

	       If possible, register the module with CPAN.  You should include
	       details of its location in your announcement.

	       Some notes about ftp archives: Please use a long descriptive
	       file name that includes the version number. Most incoming
	       directories will not be readable/listable, i.e., you wont be
	       able to see your file after uploading it. Remember to send your
	       email notification message as soon as possible after uploading
	       else your file may get deleted automatically. Allow time for
	       the file to be processed and/or check the file has been pro
	       cessed before announcing its location.

	       FTP Archives for Perl Modules:

	       Follow the instructions and links on:

		  http://www.cpan.org/modules/00modlist.long.html
		  http://www.cpan.org/modules/04pause.html

	       or upload to one of these sites:

		  https://pause.kbx.de/pause/
		  http://pause.perl.org/pause/

	       and notify .

	       By using the WWW interface you can ask the Upload Server to
	       mirror your modules from your ftp or WWW site into your own
	       directory on CPAN!

	       Please remember to send me an updated entry for the Module
	       list!

	      Take care when changing a released module.

	       Always strive to remain compatible with previous released ver
	       sions.  Otherwise try to add a mechanism to revert to the old
	       behavior if people rely on it.  Document incompatible changes.

       Guidelines for Converting Perl 4 Library Scripts into Modules


	  There is no requirement to convert anything.

	   If it aint broke, dont fix it! Perl 4 library scripts should con
	   tinue to work with no problems. You may need to make some minor
	   changes (like escaping non-array @s in double quoted strings) but
	   there is no need to convert a .pl file into a Module for just that.

	  Consider the implications.

	   All Perl applications that make use of the script will need to be
	   changed (slightly) if the script is converted into a module.  Is it
	   worth it unless you plan to make other changes at the same time?

	  Make the most of the opportunity.

	   If you are going to convert the script to a module you can use the
	   opportunity to redesign the interface.  The guidelines for module
	   creation above include many of the issues you should consider.

	  The pl2pm utility will get you started.

	   This utility will read *.pl files (given as parameters) and write
	   corresponding *.pm files. The pl2pm utilities does the following:

		    Adds the standard Module prologue lines

		    Converts package specifiers from  to ::

		    Converts die(...) to croak(...)

		    Several other minor changes

	   Being a mechanical process pl2pm is not bullet proof. The converted
	   code will need careful checking, especially any package statements.
	   Dont delete the original .pl file till the new .pm one works!

       Guidelines for Reusing Application Code


	  Complete applications rarely belong in the Perl Module Library.

	  Many applications contain some Perl code that could be reused.

	   Help save the world! Share your code in a form that makes it easy
	   to reuse.

	  Break-out the reusable code into one or more separate module files.

	  Take the opportunity to reconsider and redesign the interfaces.

	  In some cases the application can then be reduced to a small

	   fragment of code built on top of the reusable modules. In these
	   cases the application could invoked as:

		% perl -e use Module::Name; method(@ARGV) ...
	   or
		% perl -mModule::Name ...    (in perl5.002 or higher)

NOTE
       Perl does not enforce private and public parts of its modules as you
       may have been used to in other languages like C++, Ada, or Modula-17.
       Perl doesnt have an infatuation with enforced privacy.  It would pre
       fer that you stayed out of its living room because you werent invited,
       not because it has a shotgun.

       The module and its user have a contract, part of which is common law,
       and part of which is "written".	Part of the common law contract is
       that a module doesnt pollute any namespace it wasnt asked to.  The
       written contract for the module (A.K.A. documentation) may make other
       provisions.  But then you know when you "use RedefineTheWorld" that
       youre redefining the world and willing to take the consequences.



perl v5.8.8			  2008-04-25			 PERLMODLIB(1)




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