Intrepid has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I hope I can get connectivity to Perlmonks long enough to post this write-up. It's been just terrible. Ok. We'll hope for better days ahead.

I used Module::Starter to create the accessory files and build infrastructure for a module I've been working on for some time now. I tried installing from CPAN on a Linux box using cpan (the script) and strangely enough, although I had cpan set up to prefer EU::MM (Makefile.PL) over M::B, it used M::B. This was a fortunate error because there was mistaken encoding on the Build.PL file (my name with an umlaut over the "o" gave perl indigestion). And it was also fortunate because the template-created Build.PL had an entry for release_status that terminated the creation of ./Build with extreme prejudice:

$ perl Build.PL --installdirs=site
Illegal value 'experimental' for release_status

I have now probably explained enough of the circumstances to ask my question: is this a problem other people have noticed? I just deleted the entire line and then Build.PL ran to completion. Was there a change of heart on the part of M::B authors, regarding a release_status of "experimental"? or was the inclusion of this by Module::Starter a mistake? Guesses, ideas, knowledge? TIA. Oh, and do download / install Env::AsYaml from CPAN.

    — Sören :-)

Sep 02, 2025 at 18:24 UTC

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Programmed by fellows (and gals) with compassion and vision
We'll be clean when their work is done
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(Slightly modified for inclusiveness)

  • Comment on Module::Build Build.PL parameter inserted by Module::Starter - fatal error

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Re: Module::Build Build.PL parameter inserted by Module::Starter - fatal error
by choroba (Cardinal) on Sep 02, 2025 at 19:00 UTC
    Module::Starter defaults to ExtUtils::MakeMaker. What parameters did you call module-starter with?

    I've used Module::Starter for most of my distributions and I've never encountered the described problem.

    It seems release_status is populated by Module::Starter::Simple, but its value is stable, not experimental. What version of Module::Starter did you use?

    map{substr$_->[0],$_->[1]||0,1}[\*||{},3],[[]],[ref qr-1,-,-1],[{}],[sub{}^*ARGV,3]
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      as side note ExtUtils-MakeMaker seems to accept only:  m{\A(?:stable|testing|unstable)\z}

      L*

      There are no rules, there are no thumbs..
      Reinvent the wheel, then learn The Wheel; may be one day you reinvent one of THE WHEELS.
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        That's good to know, Discipulus.

        Sep 03, 2025 at 17:56 UTC

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      choroba said:

      I've used Module::Starter for most of my distributions and I've never encountered the described problem.

      Great, thanks for replying. First, I think there's a misinterpretation to dismiss (my fault, I'm sure). When I wrote about preferring M::B over EU:MM, I was referring to cpan deciding what to do when there are both Makefile.PL and Build.PL files present in the distro. I went back and checked my CPAN config (after writing, of course ;/) and it was set up to prefer Build.PL. No idea why.

      What parameters did you call module-starter with?
      Sorry, I'm afraid I don't recall. It was several weeks ago and it has scrolled off my bash history. Whatever I did, I ended up with both a Makefile.PL and a Build.PL file. Let's see ... just tested it, yeah, you can do that by providing
      both --eumm and --mb on the commandline. I must have done that?

      What version of Module::Starter did you use?
      $Module::Starter::VERSION == 1.78

      Sep 02, 2025 at 22:26 UTC

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        G'day Intrepid,

        "Sorry, I'm afraid I don't recall. It was several weeks ago and it has scrolled off my bash history. Whatever I did, I ended up with both a Makefile.PL and a Build.PL file. Let's see ... just tested it, yeah, you can do that by providing both --eumm and --mb on the commandline. I must have done that?"

        Check your ~/.module-starter/config file. I have: 

        ken@titan ~/.module-starter
$ cat config | grep build
builder: ExtUtils::MakeMaker

        [download]

        The builder entry takes a space-separated list. Perhaps you have something like this: 

        builder: ExtUtils::MakeMaker Module::Build

        [download]

        I believe that would cause the "ended up with both a Makefile.PL and a Build.PL file" situation.

        — Ken

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