Many answers you will find on this place refer to some module on the mighty CPAN. CPAN lists true gems and -IMHO- is one of the reasons the Perl community is as strong as it is.
Whatever your needs, always check CPAN, is an often heard phrase. Yet why then do some module authors feel the need to publish their projects on Freshmeat too?
Freshmeat lists many good pieces of software, yet I doubt any of us will point a browser there to launch a query regarding a Perl module. Is this TIMTOWTDI (marketing) to extremes, or am I just picky (and annoyed when I have to wade through more pages of results that do not interest me at that moment)?
To me, Freshmeat is just not "the right tool for the job" regarding modules... is it?
To me, Freshmeat is just not "the right tool for the job" regarding modules... is it?I think you've hit the nail on the head. I wouldn't use freshmeat for pure modules. As a user, I always search for modules on CPAN first, then google/freshmeat etc. On the other hand, I do use freshmeat to search for applications, especially if I don't really care what language they're written in, and I hardly ever use CPAN for that. So if you're writing a stand-alone application, freshmeat (or sourceforge) is a pretty good option, IMO.
I think you've hit the nail on the head. I wouldn't use freshmeat for pure modules. As a user, I always search for modules on CPAN first, then google/freshmeat etc. On the other hand, I do use freshmeat to search for applications, especially if I don't really care what language they're written in, and I hardly ever use CPAN for that. So if you're writing a stand-alone application, freshmeat (or sourceforge) is a pretty good option, IMO.
Well, indeed, to quote from Autrijus Tang's Perl 6 is Here Today: "CPAN is my programming language of choice; the rest is just syntax."
Now, I'm quite sure that this has been discussed here before: people tend to think that CPAN is or should be exclusively for modules. While I disagree with this point of view as long as it's the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (no reference to modules whatsoever), I see a point for publishing whole applications elsewhere.
Most importantly I see no problem in publishing both at CPAN and on SF and/or FM. The different locations may be aimed at different target users, in particular perl developers for the former and "final users" for the latter ones.
Update:
Ooops, my igorance is showing...I overlooked the /. homepage config, which includes a freshmeat checkbox.. and PerlMonks too!, but doesn't seem to include a CPAN feed.
In FM/SF you have CVS and any developer can commit changes and the development does not depend on one maintainer who has to merge patches, etc...
Just my 2 cents...
My criteria for good software:
- Does it work?
- Can someone else come in, make a change, and be reasonably certain no bugs were introduced?
I never use Freshmeat for anything because it's too hard to find anything worthwhile and the interface is clunky. I've been of the opinion that Freshmeat is a wasteland and that sane people don't use it.
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-sam