[Module-build-general] Re: 2 things

[Dave R. <au...@ur...>]

On Sun, 13 Oct 2002, Autrijus Tang wrote:

> > 2. I just noticed ExtUtils::AutoInstall.  Have you considered integrating
> > its functionality into Module::Build?
>
> Yes. I've given it some thoughts but no code yet.  M::B certainly
> could use a run-time detection of dependencies and autoinstallation.
> I need to play with Build.PL some more to figure out the neccessary
> hooks (that would also work under M::B::Compat mode).

There's already some cool prereq checking code in M::B.  Right now M::B
breaks things up along these lines:

  requires (core/all features lumped together)
  recommends (presumably for a feature)
  build_requires

I like EU::AI's notion of features though, which takes this one step
further and breaks it up by feature.  I think a good breakdown might be:

 core
 feature1
 feature2
 ...

with each of those in turn specifying runtime, build & test prereqs.

Combine this with M::B's current flexible specification syntax:

 'Foo::Bar' => '>= 1.2, != 1.9, <= 2.0'

and you have a pretty powerful way to handle prereqs.

I also like EU::AI's idea of associating tests with features, as well as
the additional make targets it implements.

Of course, I think M::B should still accept a simple version too:

  requires => { 'Foo::Bar' => 1.2 }

should just assign that to 'core', and maybe test & build as well, on the
assumption that if we're not told otherwise, we should just assume it
could be needed anywhere.


-dave

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