Non Perl files that need to be installed with CPAN distribution?

Question

I need to have files installed with my CPAN dist that aren't Perl. Where in the dist should I put them? and what's the best way to reference them from within a module so that I have access to them regardless of users configuration?

Answer 1

Well, you're not very clear on what these files are and how they're used, but you're probably looking for File::ShareDir.

File::ShareDir only takes care of the run-time access to the files from your module. The way you get the files installed along with your module depends on which install system you use:

• If you use Dist::Zilla, you use its ShareDir plugin, which has an undocumented dir parameter that defaults to share.

• For Module::Build, you use the share_dir parameter.

• For Module::Install, you use the install_share command.

• ExtUtils::MakeMaker doesn't have built in support, but you can use the File::ShareDir::Install module to add it.