I maintain two Perl modules, Net::Z3950::SimpleServer and Net::Z3950::FOLIO.

The former defines classes for a bunch of node-types which together represent a parsed query — things like Net::Z3950::RPN::Term, Net::Z3950::RPN::And, and so on. The latter enhances the functionality of these classes by adding extra methods — a technique I have seen referred to as "monkey-punching", though if there is a more Perlish name for it I would like to be enlightened.

My problem: SimpleServer is at version 1.21. When I try to publish the newer FOLIO module on CPAN, which is at version 1.0, it is rejected with error messages like: 

     module : Net::Z3950::RPN::And
     version: 1.0
     in file: Net-Z3950-FOLIO-1.0/lib/Net/Z3950/FOLIO.pm
     status : Not indexed because
             Net-Z3950-SimpleServer-1.21/SimpleServer.pm in
             M/MI/MIRK/Net-Z3950-SimpleServer-1.21.tar.gz has a higher
             version number (1.21)
How can I specify in the FOLIO module that I am not trying to define these classes, only add new methods? And so tell CPAN that I am not trying to provide alternative definitions.

Thank you!

In reply to Dealing with package version numbers when monkey-punching by MikeTaylor

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