[Bioperl-l] "progress": useful changes vs. "shiny new thingie"

[aaron.j.mackey at gsk.com]

What actual needs prompted the change from ExtUtils::MakeMaker to 
Module::Build?

It seems that the switch was made without a complete understanding of all 
the bits and bobs in the existing Makefile.PL

For one, the Bio::DB::GFF Makefile.PL is independent (yet triggered by the 
main Makefile.PL) such that users can choose whether to test the install 
vs. a live database or not.  This is an example of encapsulation: the 
specializied testing/install process for a module is kept with the module, 
and not in the monolithic main script.

For two, it seems that the ability to install bp_*.pl scripts was "lost" 
in the transition.

For three, there's certainly a lot more that I can't remember right now.

I know Module::Build is shiny and new and preferred for startup 
development projects, but that cruddy old Makefile.PL still works, and 
does a number of clever things that do have reasons for existence, even if 
the collective wit of the mailing list can't remember all of them right 
away.

-Aaron

--
Aaron J. Mackey, Ph.D.
Principal Scientist
Bioinformatics Discovery & Analysis, Upper Providence
GlaxoSmithKline
1250 South Collegeville Road, UP1345
P.O. Box 5089
Collegeville, PA  19426-0989
phone: 610-917-5761/8-282-5761
  fax: 610-917-7901
email: Aaron.J.Mackey at gsk.com