Re: Testing module madness

[Randy W. Sims]

Fergal Daly wrote:
There is a genuine problem here though and that's the fact that MakeMaker 
and possibly Module::Build don't allow you to specify testing requirements 
separately from building requirements and run time requirements but most 
people don't ever see it thanks to CPAN.pm.

The current CVS version (0.27 to be) of Module::Build does allow 
'test_requires', 'test_recommends', etc. Actually, it allows per-action 
(build, test, install, etc.), as well as run-time requirements & 
recommendations to be specified. Also, they are now evaluated when the 
action is invoked rather than evaluating all requirements up front so it 
wont barf on a missing test requirement if you are only performing a 
build, etc. This information is also (or will be) recorded in META.yml, 
so CPAN.pm & CPANPLUS can make use of it if they choose.

The current MakeMaker has support for adding arbitrary data to META.yml, 
so it can also provide info to installers. However, I doubt MakeMaker 
itself will every know anything about or use such requirements & 
recommendations.

Randy.