Where to go to discuss a Perl module, as in "Why do I want to use this?"

[davebaker]

Wondering where is a good place to go to discuss a Perl module, as in "Why do I want to use this? What does it do that's better than existing solutions/modules?"

The Synopsis often doesn't give me an example that adequately answers that question. It often assumes I know exactly why I'd want to use the module, and why it's better than other modules or hand-coded solutions (if any).

For example, https://metacpan.org/release/App-unbelievable -- I understand the benefit of static file sites, and I have written some apps in Dancer2, but I am wondering how and why one would convert data in a database (which my Dancer2 app uses to produce HTML displays) into the markdown files that are used as input to the CPAN module. Is that how and why one would use it? Is it better than other static site generating modules?

Perhaps that particular question is dumb, but it's a sincere one, and yet it's one that I feel uncomfortable lobbing into Seekers of Perl Wisdom. So the generic question here (not so much the App-unbelievable question above, which is just an example) is, do the monks (or do other parts of the Perl ecosystem) have a more appropriate place?

I've been a Perl enthusiast for 20 years, but I'm not a professional developer. Thanks for your advice!

[tobyink]

I would say right here.

"Too many questions being asked" is not a problem PerlMonks is having.

r/perl on Reddit is a reasonable place too. Maybe both and cross link between them.

[hippo]

Personally, I think that this (Seekers of Perl Wisdom) is as good a place as any to discuss the "why" of some modules. Probably the reason that we don't see more questions of this type is that module authors in the main make a fair attempt at explaining what their modules do in the POD. It wasn't always thus and still isn't universally, particularly for the more specific modules which assume a certain level of domain knowledge. That's understandable.

As for the specific case of App::unbelievable the author has a section entitled "Why?" in the POD and again in the README. It's sparse (and the module is only about a month old, so more may come) but it gives the gist. In essence, if you are familiar with Dancer2 and want to use it to maintain what will be a static site then this module (among others) purports to help you do that.

[davies]

Another vote for "here", but you might also try your local Perl Mongers. You might even try your nearest Perl conference or workshop.

Regards,

John Davies

[LanX]

When in doubt if a Perl related subject fits into SOPW, I normally choose Meditations.

I've seen several meta discussions surrounding modules there before.

Anyway nothing Perl related is off topic here. :)

Edit

Quote: (emphasize added)

Meditations is sometimes used as a sounding-board — a place to post initial drafts of perl tutorials, code modules, book reviews, articles, quizzes, etc. — so that the author can benefit from the collective insight of the monks before publishing the finished item to its proper place (be it Tutorials, Cool Uses for Perl, Reviews, or whatever). If you do this, it is generally considered appropriate to prefix your node title with "RFC:" (for "request for comments").

[1nickt]

Hi, I concur that you'll get high signal/noise responses here for almost any use case.

With respect to the question about generating static websites from Dancer2 apps, you might like Wallflower by BooK.

Hope this helps!