NAME Module::Inspector - An integrated API for inspecting Perl distributions DESCRIPTION An entire ecosystem of CPAN modules exist around the files and formats relating to the CPAN itself. Parsers and object models for various different types of files have been created over the years by various people for various projects. These modules have a variety of different styles, and work in various different ways. So when it comes to analysing the structure of a Perl module (either inside a repository, in a tarball, or in unpacked form) it is certainly quite possible to do. It's just that often it takes a high level of experience with the various modules in question, and the knowledge of how to combine the dozen of so modules in one cohesive program. Personally, I have always found this laborious. What I would prefer is a single API that is easy to use, implements the magic invisibly behind the scenes, and co-ordinates the use of the various modules for me as needed. Module::Inspector provides such an API, and provides a companion to the Class::Inspector API for accessing information on class after installation. It provides a wrapper around the various modules used to read and examine the different parts of a Perl module distribution tarball, and can inspect a module unrolled on disk, in a repository checkout, or just look directly inside a tarball. METHODS TO DO - Implement most of the functionality SUPPORT This module is stored in an Open Repository at the following address. Write access to the repository is made available automatically to any published CPAN author, and to most other volunteers on request. If you are able to submit your bug report in the form of new (failing) unit tests, or can apply your fix directly instead of submitting a patch, you are strongly encouraged to do so as the author currently maintains over 100 modules and it can take some time to deal with non-Critcal bug reports or patches. This will guarentee that your issue will be addressed in the next release of the module. If you cannot provide a direct test or fix, or don't have time to do so, then regular bug reports are still accepted and appreciated via the CPAN bug tracker. For other issues, for commercial enhancement or support, or to have your write access enabled for the repository, contact the author at the email address above. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The biggest acknowledgement must go to Chris Nandor, who wielded his legendary Mac-fu and turned my initial fairly ordinary Darwin implementation into something that actually worked properly everywhere, and then donated a Mac OS X license to allow it to be maintained properly. AUTHORS Adam Kennedy SEE ALSO Class::Inspector COPYRIGHT Copyright 2006 Adam Kennedy. This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. The full text of the license can be found in the LICENSE file included with this module.