http://qs1969.pair.com?node_id=573252


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

First Point:Reliability and securtiy mean different things in different contexts to differnt people. Depending on the different modules, no that isn't and probably shouldn't be the first goal. If a module is reliable and secure but unusable what have you gained?

Second point: Module authors goal match the goals of the project they were developing when they decided to code the module. Which normaly falls in the "get it done" category along side the "works for me" category. These don't mean the module wont be secure and reliable, it simply means that the level of security and reliability will match the goals of the project, not some preset goals for releasing software.

Final Point: If cpan was started with only "secure" and "reliable" modules with no room for immature modules then you significantly raise the bar of entry. People who would have published modules would not have, they wouldn't have learned and grown an we wouldn't have the better modules they latter produce or the modules inspired by their first attempt. CPAN and perl would be poorer for the loss not richer, at least that's how it looks from here.


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Eric Hodges