using Debian stable, i try to use as much binaries as possible, and compile the ones not there / too old in the Debian distribution. (trying the 'testing / unstable versions first).
A simple apt-get update / apt-get dist-upgrade keeps me up-to date.
Drawback is, i don't have the 'cutting-edge' new modules there might be on cpan. For example using
HTML::Template::Expr from the Debian distro was old, so did not have the nice javascript escape routines.
There are allways pro's and con's making this kinds of selections.
"We all agree on the necessity of compromise. We just can't agree on when it's necessary to compromise." - Larry Wall.