CPAN (Programming Perl)

32.8. CPAN

# Get interactive CPAN shell.
% perl -MCPAN -e shell

# Just ask for upgrade recommendations.
% perl -MCPAN -e 'CPAN::Shell->r'

# Install the named module in batch mode.
% perl -MCPAN -e "install Class::Multimethods"

The CPAN module is an automated, user-friendly interface to the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network described in Chapter 22, "CPAN". Unlike most modules you encounter, it's intended to be called from the command line, just like a little program. The first time you call it, the module prompts for the default CPAN mirror site and other information it needs. After that, you can fire up its interactive shell to make queries and select modules to install, ask the module for recommendations on which modules need an upgrade, or just have it install one particular module.