http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=573149


in reply to Reliable software: SOLVED (was: Reliable software OR Is CPAN the sacred cow)

Just to add my vote, I don't know anyone who treats the CPAN as a sacred cow, and I've yet to hear anyone say that even a single module in the CPAN is perfect.

However, in my experience it is generally a far far better use of my time to pull pieces out of the CPAN than write them myself. Sure I may find spelling mistakes, bugs, or incomplete solutions, or even security issues, but I'm way ahead of the DIY or commercial options in that I have the source, and I have a community of other users who are generally more than passingly interested in hearing of problems and helping with solutions.

For the record, I upvoted you on this thread because, despite your somewhat hostile tone, I think this discussion is a good one to have now and again, and I particularly agree that people shouldn't just put all their personal modules on the CPAN in some misguided quest for glory. I'd encourage you to add your best work though. If it is as good as you say, it would be both an important contribution the the community, and a good example of the care that should be taken in publishing modules. And I dare say that some users may offer corrections to your work from which you will benefit.

I think that this is a case where yelling from outside is less effective than coming inside and lending a hand.

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I'd like to be able to assign to an luser