toadi has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hello,

I'm troubled on version numbers on CPAN. I looked on xml.com and found a article using XML::Parser::PerlSAX. My boss said I could use whatever modules I wanted(good boss, coss most tell to roll your onw). But it needed to be bigger then 1.0. So I'm troubled cos the XML::Parser::PerlSAX looks like a good module.

Can I have some advice on the matter ??

--
My opinions may have changed,
but not the fact that I am right

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Modules and version numbers.
by Abigail (Deacon) on Jul 11, 2001 at 15:53 UTC
    Well the best way of solving this problem is to indicate to your boss his/her requirement is nonsense and that the version number itself doesn't indicate anything.

    But if that doesn't work, fix stupid requirements with stupid solutions. Write a dummy module like: 

        package XML::Parser::PerlSAX::toadi;
    use XML::Parser::PerlSAX;
    
    use vars '$Version';
    
    # Leave next 2 lines out if XML::Parser::PerlSAX doesn't
    # use Exporter.
    use Exporter;  
    @ISA = 'Exporter';
 
    $VERSION = 1.1;

    [download]
    Alternatively, assuming XML::Parser::PerlSAX is free software, copy it, and change the version number in your copy.

    -- Abigail

[reply]
[d/l]
Re: Modules and version numbers.
by jmcnamara (Monsignor) on Jul 11, 2001 at 12:54 UTC

    The fact that the revision number is less than 1.0 doesn't mean anything. There is nothing to stop alpha code being added to CPAN with a version number of 1.0 or higher. The number of revisions and the time that the module has been in CPAN are better indicators of whether the module is well maintained and therefore more likely to be stable.

    According to the README for libxml-perl, XML::Parser::PerlSAX is BETA: "interfaces are stable but there may still be bugs".

    John.
    --

[reply]
Re: Modules and version numbers.
by bikeNomad (Priest) on Jul 11, 2001 at 18:15 UTC
    Explain to your boss that Perl allows for compression of version numbers and that you have to multiply the given version number by a module-specific scale factor to normalize it to the 1.0 scale (s)he's looking for.

    I would say to educate your boss that (in general) "1.0" versions of modules are indicated by the first (D) letter of their DSLIP keys being R, M, or S in the CPAN Module List. The first letter is:<bl>

  • i - Idea, listed to gain consensus or as a placeholder
  • c - under construction but pre-alpha (not yet released)
  • a/b - Alpha/Beta testing
  • R - Released
  • M - Mature (no rigorous definition)
  • S - Standard, supplied with Perl</bl>

    However, the author of this particular module was apparently too lazy to list it in the Module List. Or maybe he doesn't feel it's ready yet. So you need to ask the author what the proper scale factor for his version number is.

[reply]
Re: Modules and version numbers.
by agoth (Chaplain) on Jul 11, 2001 at 12:34 UTC
    Advice on which bit exactly?
    Why do you need it to be greater than version 1?
[reply]

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