NAME

inc::Beer::Admin - Alcoholic Replacement for ExtUtils::MakeMaker

VERSION

This document describes version 0.02 of inc::Beer::Admin, released February 28, 2003.

SYNOPSIS

In your Makefile.PL:

    use inc::Beer::Admin;
    WriteMakefile;

DESCRIPTION

This module is a drop-in replacement for ExtUtils::MakeMaker, and a fork of the wonderfully inspiring CPAN::MakeMaker.

The intention of this module is to encourage adoption for the catalyst-style, customizable distribution pioneered by Brian "Ingy" Ingerson's CPAN::MakeMaker.

End-users of such distributions do not have to download or install inc::Beer::Admin at all -- the neccessary parts are automatically bundled with distributions generated by Makefile.PL; MANIFEST is also updated automatically..

Before I get around to write some new documentations for this module, please just read CPAN::MakeMaker and CPAN::MakeMaker-Philosophy for the real documentation. :-)

Based on version 0.10 of CPAN::MakeMaker, this module adds several features:

Checking and installing nmake.exe on Win32

For Win32 Perl users, the non-redistributable nmake.exe is often needed before installing CPAN modules. Now simply write this in your Makefile.PL:

    use inc::Beer::Admin 'check_nmake';
    check_nmake();
    WriteMakefile;

It will then automatically check for a valid nmake.exe before writing Makefile.PL, and offers to download it from the vendor site and install it.

Fetching remote files via FTP

You may also import get_file function to fetch needed files, executables, PAR bundles, etc from remote hosts.

Integration with Module::Signature

A new make action, make distsign, is added for Module::Signature users to sign the distribution before release.

FAQ

Why does this module have an inc prefix?

The original implementation of CPAN::MakeMaker introduces subtle problems for distributions ending with CPAN (e.g. CPAN.pm, WAIT::Format::CPAN), because its placement in ./CPAN/ duplicates the real libraries that will get installed; also, the directory name ./CPAN/ may confuse users.

On the other hand, putting bundled, for-build-time-only libraries in ./inc/ is a normal practice, and there is little chance that a CPAN distribution will be called Something::inc, so it's much safer to use.

Also, it allows for other helper modules like ExtUtils::AutoInstall to reside also in ./inc/, and to make use of them in the future.

But what about the Beer::Admin part?

On February 28, 2003, the following exchange took place on MagNet #perl:

    <ingy> autrijus: I might just advise that only CPAN.pm use 0.11,
           and not actually release the version for the general public
    <autrijus> ugh. but i want 0.11 to play with :)
    <Spoon> 0.11 of what?
    <autrijus> Spoon: of a highly convoluted module that requires
               Int 17 to understand.
    <Spoon> it has no name?
    <autrijus> no one dare speaking of its name.
    <autrijus> Spoon: but one can hint; it has the nexus of perl
               community as its first name, and the humble device that
               installs modules as its last name
    <EuroXwrn> Beer::Admin
    <Spoon> oh. that one.
    <autrijus> EuroXwrn: that's a good one
    <Spoon> ingy's module that someone called viral
    <ingy> Spoon: shhhh
    * autrijus decides to fork CPAN::MakeMaker into Acme::Beer::Admin
    <ingy> nice

So there. It's all Schwern's fault.

SEE ALSO

CPAN::MakeMaker, CPAN::MakeMaker-Philosophy, ExtUtils::MakeMaker

ExtUtils::AutoInstall, Module::Signature, PAR

AUTHORS

Autrijus Tang <autrijus@autrijus.org>

Based on original works by Brian Ingerson <INGY@cpan.org>

COPYRIGHT

Copyright 2002, 2003 by Autrijus Tang <autrijus@autrijus.org>. Copyright (c) 2002. Brian Ingerson. All rights reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.

See http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html