in reply to Re^3: Deciding dependency versions
in thread Deciding dependency versions

I didn't think that would be enough, so I ran some tests

Thanks kcott. Very much appreciated that you took the time to test it.

Do you feel it is worth shipping an update to include use VERSION or am I relatively safe to wait until another update is needed?

5.8 & 5.10: there seems to be a small number of ISPs, with minimal Perl support, who provide these versions

Very timely as this morning I've had a FAIL from CPAN Testers :(

After some investigation, it seems that I've used the defined-or operator that was new in v5.10. So, now I have to decide whether to support a 16-year-old version of Perl or set the minimum version at v5.10. If it wasn't a "small number of ISPs" that are using v5.8 then it would be an easy choice as the module is useless without an active network connection to call the APIs.

I was very surprised to note the time between v5.8 (2003) and v5.10 (2007)

This has also got me looking back at Business::Stripe::WebCheckout where there have been some N/A CPAN Tester reports. I'd thought that was because of the minimum Perl version but it isn't. Instead it seems to be that the tester didn't have the required version of ExtUtils::MakeMaker installed so didn't run the tests. This module would also fail on Perl v5.8...

Interestingly, the Wikipedia article on Perl version lists v5.16 onward as "toolchain" and v5.14 backwards as "legacy". So a case could certainly be made to not support anything prior to v5.16.

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Re^5: Deciding dependency versions
by kcott (Archbishop) on Jun 11, 2023 at 14:09 UTC

    I hadn't encountered the idea of "rely on Makefile.PL" previously. As I said, "I didn't think that would be enough", but I didn't know for sure. The tests were as much for my benefit as yours. I was surprised that I only got a warning re Perl version.

    I have the impression that you're in the process of providing other updates for your module. I'd be inclined to include "use VERSION;" with the next set of updates.

    From v5.12 onwards, new versions have been released annually (mostly in May or June); in general, v5.x.y versions (where x is even and y > 0) have been compatible with 5.x.0, the few exceptions (just 3 or 4, I think) have only had minor incompatibilities. v5.10.1 was incompatible with v5.10.0 (from memory, mostly, or perhaps entirely, due to the '~~' operator). v5.8.0 to 5.8.9 were more like a series of completely new releases, which is why they're spread over a longer period than we're currently seeing — I recall working remotely a lot during that period and was bitten a few times with code that worked on the v5.8.x that I had installed at home, failing on the v5.8.x-1 that was installed at $work.

    I suppose people will have their own views on where legacy ends and toolchain begins. I currently have to support v5.14 for $work; but that's planned to change to v5.26 in the not-too-distant future. I have seen a minimum version for CPAN modules hotly debated whenever the topic comes up: it won't matter what you choose; it's likely someone will disagree with it.

    — Ken

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      v5.8.0 to 5.8.9 were more like a series of completely new releases
       
      I have seen a minimum version for CPAN modules hotly debated whenever the topic comes up: it won't matter what you choose; it's likely someone will disagree with it.

      Thanks Ken,

      That's given me the information and nudge I needed to make up my mind about the minimum Perl version...my default level of support for modules designed to run on the web and make API calls will be v5.10. That way, I don't need to start remembering (and more likely forgetting!) about sub-versions of v5.8.x.

      If I really need a newer feature then I will look at this again for just that module but until that happens or I write a module that isn't going to run on the web, that's one bit of decision making boxed off 😃

      Perl version decided...now, that jut leaves dependency version
      But there is plenty of information in this thread for me to go over and digest...

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