My question is in the context of testing modules using Test::More and Test::Harness. Let's suppose you want to write a test to use a CPAN module (not the module being tested), but if it's not available on the site where the test is run, to gently skip one or more tests (up to or including every test in the script).

use_ok() does not seem to be the answer. It's a test in itself, which I don't want. It seems aimed at loading the module to be tested, not a module to be used for the test.

It seems a simple enough task, but I get very perplexing results. Trying this sample test script 

use strict;
use warnings;

use Test::Weaken 0.002002;
use Test::More tests => 1;
pass("Just so I have a test in the example");

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with perl 4monks.t, I get 
1..1
ok 1 - Just so I have a test in the example

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But using the test target of an ExtUtils-MakeMaker generated Makefile, I get: 
t/4monks......Test::Weaken does not define $Test::Weaken::VERSION--ver
+sion check failed at t/4monks.t line 4.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at t/4monks.t line 4.
t/4monks......dubious                                                 
+       
        Test returned status 2 (wstat 512, 0x200)

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Seems as if Test::Harness can't find a VERSION number which a raw perl command had no trouble finding. (If you suspect I'm doing something wrong in Test::Weaken 0.002002, it's on CPAN for your inspection.)

I've tried some eval trickery, but that this problem with the mysterious disappearing VERSION number so far has defeated me.

In reply to Skipping tests if a module is not available by Jeffrey Kegler

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