in reply to A First CPAN Odyssey

Please make a really good synopsis. The synopsis should be a small, self-contained, working program that shows off the functionality of the module.

When I evaluate modules, the synopsis is a productivity tool. I cut and paste the synopsis to create a small test program. Modules with a bug in the synopsis, or with a synopsis that doesn't show the strength of the module, have trouble getting my attention.

I first watched the pod-synopsis cut-and-paste technique used by a tremendously strong perl programmer during a perl programming competition. I have used it ever since.

Your challenge will be to come up with a synopsis that functions without having a known database to work with. So if you follow BUU's advice and test the install with a small test database, could you use this same database in your synopsis?

It should work perfectly the first time! - toma