---
name: "cpanp"
section: "1p"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-cpanplus"
version: "0.9916-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cpanp/1p"
---

# cpanp(1p)

The CPANPLUS launcher

## NAME

cpanp - The CPANPLUS launcher

## SYNOPSIS

**cpanp**

**cpanp** \[-\]**a** \[ --\[**no**-\]*option*... \]  *author*...

**cpanp** \[-\]**mfitulrcz** \[ --\[**no**-\]*option*... \]  *module*...

**cpanp** \[-\]**d** \[ --\[**no**-\]*option*... \] \[ --**fetchdir**=... \]  *module*...

**cpanp** \[-\]**xb** \[ --\[**no**-\]*option*... \]

**cpanp** \[-\]**o** \[ --\[**no**-\]*option*... \] \[ *module*... \]

## DESCRIPTION

This script launches the **CPANPLUS** utility to perform various operations from the command line. If it's invoked without arguments, an interactive shell is executed by default.

Optionally, it can take a single-letter switch and one or more arguments, to perform the associated action on each argument.  A summary of the available commands is listed below; `"cpanp -h"` provides a detailed list.

```
    h                   # help information
    v                   # version information
    a AUTHOR ...        # search by author(s)
    m MODULE ...        # search by module(s)
    f MODULE ...        # list all releases of a module
    i MODULE ...        # install module(s)
    t MODULE ...        # test module(s)
    u MODULE ...        # uninstall module(s)
    d MODULE ...        # download module(s)
    l MODULE ...        # display detailed information about module(s)
    r MODULE ...        # display README files of module(s)
    c MODULE ...        # check for module report(s) from cpan-testers
    z MODULE ...        # extract module(s) and open command prompt in it
    x                   # reload CPAN indices
    o [ MODULE ... ]    # list installed module(s) that aren't up to date
    b                   # write a bundle file for your configuration
```

Each command may be followed by one or more *options*.  If preceded by `"no"`, the corresponding option will be set to `0`, otherwise it's set to `1`.

Example: To skip a module's tests,

```
    cpanp -i --skiptest MODULE ...
```

Valid options for most commands are `"cpantest"`, `"debug"`, `"flush"`, `"force"`, `"prereqs"`, `"storable"`, `"verbose"`, `"md5"`, `"signature"`, and `"skiptest"`; the 'd' command also accepts `"fetchdir"`.  Please consult CPANPLUS::Configure for an explanation to their meanings.

Example: To download a module's tarball to the current directory,

```
    cpanp -d --fetchdir=. MODULE ...
```