19.2. Getting PreparedSince CPAN is just a big file-storage site, you just need to upload your code. To contribute to CPAN, you need two things:
The PAUSE ID is your passport to contributing to CPAN. You get a PAUSE ID by simply asking. The details are described at http://www.cpan.org/modules/04pause.html. You fill out a web form (linked from there) with a few basic details, such as your name, home web page, email address, and your preferred PAUSE ID. At the moment, PAUSE IDs must be between four and nine characters. (Some legacy PAUSE IDs are only three characters long.)[*] Once you have your PAUSE ID, you need to think globally about your contribution. Because your module will probably be used in programs along with other modules from other authors, you need to ensure that the package names for modules don't collide with existing modules or confuse the people who browse CPAN. Luckily for you, there is a loose collection of volunteers on the Perl Modules list (modules@perl.org) who've been working with CPAN and modules for quite a while and can help you sort through most problems.
Before you send your first email to the PAUSE admins, it's probably a good idea to do a few things first:
|