---
name: "Module::Optional"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "libmodule-optional-perl"
version: "0.03-1.1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Module::Optional"
---

# Module::Optional(3pm)

Breaking module dependency chains

## NAME

Module::Optional - Breaking module dependency chains

## SYNOPSIS

```
  use Bar::Dummy qw();
  use Module::Optional Bar;
```

## ABSTRACT

This module provides a way of using a module which may or may not be installed on the target machine. If the module is available it behaves as a straight  use. If the module is not available, subs are repointed to their equivalents in a dummy namespace.

## DESCRIPTION

Suppose you are the developer of module `"Foo"`, which uses functionality  from the highly controversial module `"Bar"`. You actually quite like `"Bar"`, and want to reuse its functionality in your `"Foo"` module. But, many people  will refuse to install `"Foo"` as it needs `"Bar"`. Maybe `"Bar"` is failing  tests or is misbehaving on some platforms.

Making `"Bar"` an optional module will allow users to run `"Foo"` that don't have `"Bar"` installed. For Module::Build users, this involves changing  the status of the `"Bar"` dependency from `"requires"` to `"recommends"`.

To use this module, you need to set up a namespace `"Bar::Dummy"`. The  recommended way of doing this is to ship lib/Bar/Dummy.pm with your module. This could be shipped as a standalone module. A dummy module for  `"Params::Validate"` is shipped with Module::Optional, as this was the  original motivation for the module. If there are other common candidates  for dummying, petition me, and I'll include them in the Module::Optional  distribution.

### Using an optional module

Place the lines of code in the following order:

```
  use Bar::Dummy qw();
  use Module::Optional qw(Bar quux wibble wobble);
```

Always set up the dummy module first, but don't import anything - this  is to avoid warnings about redefined subroutines if the real Bar is  installed on the target machine. Module::Optional will do the importing:  quux wibble and wobble from the real Bar if it exists, or from Bar::Dummy if it doesn't.

### Asking for a module version

If you need a version of the module or later, this can be done thus:

```
  use Bar::Dummy qw();
  use Module::Optional qw(Bar 0.07 quux wibble wobble);
```

If version 0.07 or later of Bar is not available, the dummy is used.

### Suppressing the module

You will probably be developing your module on a platform that does have  Bar installed (I hope). However, you need to be able to tell what happens on systems without Bar. To do this, run the following (example is Unix):

```
  MODULE_OPTIONAL_SKIP=1 make test
```

You also want to do this in tests for the dummy module that you are  providing. (You are providing tests for this module?) This can easily be done with a begin block at the top of the test:

```
  BEGIN {
      local $ENV{MODULE_OPTIONAL_SKIP} = 1;
      use Module::Optional qw(Params::Validate);
  }
```

### Writing a ::Dummy Module

You provide a namespace suffixed with ::Dummy containing subs corresponding to all the subs and method calls for the optional module. You should also  provide the same exports as the module itself performs.

Adhere strictly to any prototypes in the optional module.

An example of a dummy module is Params::Validate::Dummy, provided in  this distribution.

## INTERNALS

Module::Optional performs two types of redirection for the missing module. Firstly via `@ISA` inheritance - Foo::Bar inherits from Foo::Bar::Dummy.

Secondly, an AUTOLOAD method is added to Foo::Bar, which will catch calls  to subs in this namespace.

## BUGS

Please report bugs to rt.cpan.org by posting to  bugs-module-optional@rt.cpan.org or visiting  https://rt.cpan.org/Public/Dist/Display.html?Name=Module-Optional.

## AUTHOR

```
        Ivor Williams
        ivorw-mod-opt at xemaps.com
```

## COPYRIGHT

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.

## SEE ALSO

Test::MockModule, Module::Pluggable, Module::Build.