in reply to How to get a module off CPAN

  1. Write a patch that fixes the open bugs, and the bugs you've found.
  2. Submit that patch to the listed author, copying the modules mailing list in your e-mail.
  3. If the author accepts that patch...
    1. Your work here is complete!
  4. Elsif the author says he is no longer interested in maintaining the distribution:
    1. Ask if you can take over as maintainer, and if he agrees ask him to inform the Perl modules mailing list.
    2. Someone on the mailing list should be able to give you the permissions on CPAN to take over the module.
    3. Release a new fixed version.
  5. Elsif you get no reply after a couple of months:
    1. Explain the situation on the Perl modules mailing list, including what you have done to contact the author. Ask tobe made the maintainer of the module.
    2. Someone on the mailing list should be able to give you the permissions on CPAN to take over the module.
    3. Release a new fixed version.
  6. Else: die("unexpected situation")

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Re^2: How to get a module off CPAN
by JavaFan (Canon) on Dec 11, 2011 at 20:37 UTC
    Point 6 ought to be: fork (which, assuming a reasonable "open" or "free" license is possible), or write your own implementation from scratch. Name it differently, and you don't need to ask anyone for permission. You don't have to wait for months. You can upload something that works now.
[reply]

      Technically, I think that you can upload something that works now under the same name. It just gets flagged with big, red warnings about "Unofficial Release!" and isn't indexed as well. I can see situations where that would be preferred to picking a new name, at least to some people. I certainly find it preferable to "make a patch available 'somewhere'" that I've seen advocated.

      My preference would be to have such unofficial releases become official automatically simply based on the lack of response of the so-called "module owner". Certainly, we should not require presenting evidence of six months of stalking just to contribute a bug fix.

      - tye        

[reply]

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