WHAT? Software-License-OrLaterPack is an add-on for Software-License, a set of licenses with "or later" clause (like GPL_3::or_later). It allows Perl developers (who use Dist-Zilla) to release their work under the terms of a *License* version *N* or (at user option) any later version. Software-License-OrLaterPack is free sotfware. QUICK START Install the distribution: $ cpanm Software::License::OrLaterPack Then use desired license in your dist.ini file, e. g.: license = GPL_3::or_later LIST OF PROVIDED LICENSES AGPL_3::or_later GPL_1::or_later GPL_2::or_later GPL_3::or_later LGPL_2_1::or_later LGPL_3_0::or_later WHY? Dist-Zilla is a popular tool for building CPAN distributions. Build process is controlled by dist.ini, Dist-Zilla configuration file. A distribution author can specify license covering his work by a line in dist.ini file: license = NAME where *NAME* is a name of module from Software::License hierarchy. Software-License is shipped with a set of popular licenses, from Apache_1_1 to Zlib, including GNU licenses (GPL), including their "Affero" and "Lesser" variants. So, if a developer wants to release his work under the terms of the GPL version 3, he should write in his dist.ini: license = GPL_3 However, Free Software Foundation recommends using clause "license version *N* or (at your option) any later version" . Unfortunately, Software-License distribution does not supply (out of the box) a way to express such clause. Software-License-OrLaterPack fulfills the lack. If Software-License-OrLaterPack is installed, a developer can specify in his dist.ini: license = GPL_3::or_later SOURCE vs DISTRIBUTION You may face Software-License-OrLaterPack in *source* or *distribution* form. If you are going to release *your* Perl distribution under the terms of "upgradable" license, you will likely be interested in *using* Software-License-OrLaterPack *distribution*. Since Perl is an interpreting language, modules in the distribution *look* like sources. Actually, they are Perl source files. But they are not *actual* sources, because they are *built* (preprocessed or generated) by Dist-Zilla. If you are going to *develop* (or *hack*) the Software-License-OrLaterPack itself, you will likely need the *actual source*, not distribution. How to distinguish source and distribution: * Source may contain Mercurial files and directories .hgignore, .hgtags, .hg/, while distribution should not. * Source should contain files dist.ini, weaver.ini, while distribution may not. * Source should *not* contain xt/ directory, while distribution should. * Name of source directory does *not* include version, while name of distribution does. SOURCE Software-License-OrLaterPack source is in Mercurial repository hosted on SourceForge . Software-License-OrLaterPack source files usually include a comment near the top of the file: This file is part of Software-License-OrLaterPack. Source may include files which are useful for hacking but not needed for installing. Such files are not included into distribution. DISTRIBUTION Software-License-OrLaterPack distributions are published on CPAN . Generated files Distribution may cointain files preprocessed or generated by Dist-Zilla and its plugins. Some generated files are made from Software-License-OrLaterPack source, but some are generated from third-party templates. Files generated from third-party templates usually include a comment near the top of the file: This file was generated with XXX (where *XXX* is a name of the plugin generated the file). Such files are *not* part of Software-License-OrLaterPack source. INSTALLING A DISTRIBUTION With cpanm cpanm tool is the easiest way to install distribution. It automates downloading, building, testing, installing, and uninstalling. To install the latest version from CPAN: $ cpanm Software::License::OrLaterPack To install a specific version (e. g. *0.007*) from CPAN: $ cpanm Software::License::OrLaterPack@0.007 To install locally available distribution (e. g. previously downloaded from CPAN or built from sources): $ cpanm ./Software-License-OrLaterPack-0.007.tar.gz To uninstall the distribution: $ cpanm -U Software::License::OrLaterPack Manually To install distribution tarball manually (let us assume you have version *0.007* of the distribution): $ tar xaf Software-License-OrLaterPack-0.007.tar.gz $ cd Software-License-OrLaterPack-0.007 $ perl Build.PL $ ./Build build $ ./Build test $ ./Build install HACKING THE SOURCE For hacking, you will need Mercurial, Perl interpreter and Dist-Zilla (with some plugins), and likely cpanm to install missed parts. Clone the repository first: $ hg clone http://hg.code.sf.net/p/orlaterpack/code/ \ Software-License-OrLaterPack $ cd Software-License-OrLaterPack To build a distribution from the source, run: $ PERL5LIB=lib:$PERL5LIB dzil build If required Dist-Zilla plugins are missed, dzil tool will warn you and show the command to install all the required plugins. To run the tests: $ PERL5LIB=lib:$PERL5LIB dzil test To run all the tests, including release tests: $ PERL5LIB=lib:$PERL5LIB dzil test --release To install the distribution: $ PERL5LIB=lib:$PERL5LIB dzil install or $ cpanm ./Software-License-OrLaterPack-VERSION.tar.gz where *VERSION* is a version of built distribution. BROWSING THE DOCUMENTATION Online The easiest way is browsing the documentation online at CPAN . Locally installed If you have the distribution installed, use perldoc tool to browse locally installed documentation: $ perldoc Software::License::OrLaterPack $ perldoc Software::License::GPL_3::or_later Built from source If you are hacking the sources, build Software-License-OrLaterPack first, then: $ PERL5LIB=lib:$PERL5LIB perldoc Software::License::OrLaterPack $ PERL5LIB=lib:$PERL5LIB perldoc Software::License::GPL_3::or_later REPORTING BUGS There are few ways to reports bugs and/or provide feedback: Bug tracker at CPAN You need a CPAN/PAUSE account in oder to report bugs via the web interface. Alternatively, you may try to login using your OpenID. (On 2015-04-27 I have logged in successfully with my OpenID provided by LiveJournal, but I failed to login with OpenID provided by Google. I did not check other OpenID providers.) Browsing bugs does not require authentication. * Report bugs * Browse bugs CPAN web page also says: The quickest way to report a bug in Software-License-OrLaterPack is by sending email to bug-Software-License-OrLaterPack [at] rt.cpan.org. However, I did not try this yet. Bug tracker at SourceForge You need a SourceForge account in order to report bugs. * Tickets GLOSSARY CPAN Comprehensive Perl Archive Network, a large collection of Perl software and documentation. See . Distribution Tarball, containing Perl modules and accompanying files (documentation, metainfo, tests). Usually distributions are uploaded to CPAN, and can be installed with dedicated tools (cpan, cpanm, and others). Module Perl library file, usually with .pm suffix. Usually contains one package. See perlmod . Package Perl language construct. See package and perlmod . SEE ALSO Dist::Zilla Software::License Why should programs say “Version 3 of the GPL or any later version”? COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE Copyright © 2015 Van de Bugger Software-License-OrLaterPack is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. Software-License-OrLaterPack is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with Software-License-OrLaterPack. If not, see . Software-License-OrLaterPack *distribution* may contain files generated by Dist-Zilla and/or its plugins from third-party templates; copyright and license specified above are *not* applicable to that files.