Re^2: Modules in core perl5 and perl6

[Jaap]

Any chance we rename LWP::Simple to something more descriptive? Perhaps something along the lines of Network:: or Protocols:: or something?

Also, the more modules are in the core, the easier it is for people to use Perl. Look at PHP, most stuff you (don't) want to do is already in the core, you almost never have to use PEAR to install additional modules.

[Corion]

Renaming LWP::Simple is an interesting idea, but I'm notoriously bad at naming things, so I won't do anything in that direction.

If I look at how big the Perl5 core got and the amount of problems that there are with unmaintained-yet-core modules and the size of a "minimal" Perl5 installation, I'm all for a small core, together with a painless, working, transparent way of installing new modules. Modules are what differentiates the Perl model from the PHP model - with the PHP model, you have to rely on the people in the cathedral to provide for your needs, while with Perl modules, anybody can write, distribute and install them. By moving stuff into the Perl core, you take that possibility away from people and force them into the version release lockstep.

[Anonymous Monk]

Also, the more modules are in the core, the easier it is for people to use Perl.

The more modules in the core means that maintainance is harder, as part of the resources will need to go to maintaining the modules. Which means that bugs will take longer to fix - resources are limited. Which will make Perl actually harder to sell, and less easy to use. ;-)

But there is NOTHING at all that prevents YOU (or anyone else) to create a Perl6 distribution that include fifty thousand modules. In fact, there's nothing that prevents YOU from creating a Perl5 distribution that includes fifty thousand modules. (Except perhaps finding fifty thousand modules). If you think it's important to have a distribution that includes many modules, then go ahead and MAKE ONE.

I'm amazed how many people say we need larger distributions, but no one things it's important enough to make such a distribution him/herself. The "we should make" always means "someone else should make".

[Tanktalus]

Hear, hear! In some corporate environments, it's a pain in the butt to get new modules installed globally (since I need them on about 200 machines, 175 of which I don't own, and 150 of which I don't know about). If all the buzzwords were covered (HTML, XML, SOAP, SMTP, etc.), it'd be so convenient.

That's not to say it's not worth fighting the corporate environment to get those modules. It's just that it takes months to get there. (Perl 5.6->5.8 upgrade taking over a year, ... and counting. We were originally going to use 5.8.1 as the brand-new perl at the time.)