Re: [Module::Build] (RFC) META.yml Specification Update

[Randy W. S. <Ra...@Th...>]

Hi Ken,

Ok, this is the last time. I promise. 'Cause now I'm just talking to 
myself anyway.

Actually, I was doing some more hunting and gathering, and I stumbled 
across some other "suggestions". I also added to each field some tags 
indicating the version of the spec when the field was added and whether 
it's required or optional. (Thought about adding a tag for type, e.g. 
scalar, sequence, or mapping, but...)

I don't actually anticipate all these being added; this is basically an 
accumulation of ideas, current practice, brain-storm, etc. I've just 
tried to organize it for easy review. Cut and dice.

Notes and Sources:

The "authored_by" and "abstract" fields where added because I found 
quite a few META.yml files containing them or something like.

The "generation" field was added based on a discussion beginning here 
<http://nntp.x.perl.org/group/perl.cpan.discuss/1>, specifically 
<http://nntp.x.perl.org/group/perl.cpan.discuss/14>. Also, it surfaced 
again in this discussion 
<http://nntp.x.perl.org/group/perl.cpan.discuss/26>.

The "private" and "no_index" comes from a discussion began here 
<http://nntp.x.perl.org/group/perl.module-authors/765>, specifically 
<http://nntp.x.perl.org/group/perl.module-authors/800>. The "private" 
field was used unofficially for a while, but has since been changed to 
"no_index" as per 
<http://nntp.x.perl.org/group/perl.module-authors/1385> and 
<http://cplan.kwiki.org/?MinutesAccordingToAutrijus>

The "requires_package" field was first suggested by me in this brief 
discussion <http://nntp.x.perl.org/group/perl.module-authors/1313> and 
then shortly after in a much larger discussion 
<http://nntp.x.perl.org/group/perl.module-authors/1338> which is where I 
also added "requires_os", "excludes_os", and "configure" fields. Much of 
this is meant to aid cpan-testers automated testing, but will also be 
usefule for M::B, MM, and other tools.

The "require_build_tools" was added as another after-thought to the 
above because it also indicates an external dependency.

The alternative suggestion in "recommends" is another idle suggestion of 
mine which is meant to supply enough information to the user so that he 
or she can make an informed choice as to which optional modules to install.

I put it in pod 'cause it's easier to edit, and it's easy to change the 
format with pod2html and kin.

I've now finished my hunting and gathering period; it's time to evolve.

Later,
Randy.