What modules are distributed with Perl?

Question

How do I know what modules are distributed with Perl?

My first guess is that the core modules listed here are always included, though I cannot find this stated explicitl

Answer 1

For a quick way to see the modules and versions that you have installed, use the cpan tool to create an autobundle:

 cpan -a

ExtUtils::Installed can help you if you need something more sophisticated.

There used to be the idea of a "standard library", but it doesn't really exist in reality. Module::CoreList tells you what is in the "standard library", but many vendors install additional modules and some even remove or update modules. Additionally, distributions such as Strawberry Perl and ActivePerl come with many bonus modules.

Also, you don't need root to install modules. You only need root to install modules where root can install modules. perlfaq8 gives you all the details for installing modules wherever you like. I recommend that you install all modules outside of the distributed @INC directories so you keep your distributed Perl clean.

Good luck,

Answer 2

A simple reference for this is in the Appendix D from the Book Beginning Perl. Granted it applies to Perl 5.6 but, to my knowledge, Perl 5.8 did not remove any of these and only introduced new ones (like Digest::MD5, File::Temp, Filter::Simple, libnet, List::Util, Memoize, MIME::Base64, Scalar::Util, Storable, Switch, Test::More, Test::Simple, Text::Balanced, Tie::File, etc.)

For each version of perl you can look in perldoc. here is the list for perl 5.8.8