This is part of the venerable series located at paperlined.org/dev/perl/modules/related_modules/, but focused just on CPAN authoring.

Building

• Dist::Zilla (tutorials), which has had several spinoffs: (176 ++s, last updated May 2022, first released Oct 2008)
  • Minilla (tutorial) (54 ++s, last updated Jun 2022, first released Nov 2013)
  • Dist::Milla (tutorial) (34 ++s, last updated Feb 2022, first released Mar 2013)
• ExtUtils::MakeMaker, in Perl core since 5.000 (50 ++s, last udpated Dec 2021)
• Module::Build (in Perl core since 5.9.4) and the numerous related modules (44 ++s, last updated Jan 2020, first released Aug 2001)
  • ExtUtils::MakeMaker includes a section comparing these two
• Module::Install (18 ++s, last updated Dec 2017, first released Mar 2003)
  • It has an explicit "this module is really old, use these alternatives instead" blurb at the top.

Testing

See testing.md §Related modules.

Creating a set of files to start with

• many of the above have their own creator scripts — dzil new, minil new, milla new, ...
• Module::Starter and its numerous related modules (28 ++s, last updated Sep 2020, first released Apr 2004)
• ExtUtils::ModuleMaker (1 ++, last updated Jul 2018, first released Jul 2005)
• h2xs
  • This is widely recognized as being an older precursor to the above modules.
  • Although it mentions C files, it can also be used to start pure-Perl modules too: h2xs -AX --skip-exporter --use-new-tests -n Foo::Bar