Side by side
cpan vs opam
Both stand on package managers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
cpan provides a broad terminal workflow for installing, inspecting, building, and testing Perl modules. Its documented unimplemented options and upgrade warning are important considerations for maintenance tasks.
Visit cpan Free plan LinuxMacWindows
opam provides free package management with reproducible environments, flexible sources, and broad desktop and BSD support. Its switches and compiler handling are useful when projects need separate OCaml setups.
Visit opamThe facts
| cpan | opam | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Not published |
| Plans published | 1 | None |
| Maker | cpan | Not published |
| Website | perldoc.perl.org | opam.ocaml.org |
| On package managers | #42 of 93 | #46 of 93 |
cpan: what it does well
- Free command-line access to CPAN
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Resolves dependencies and supports offline installation
- Builds modules and runs their tests
- Provides mirror and module inspection tools
What to know first
- Dry-run option is unimplemented
- Warning option is unimplemented
- Blind upgrades can break installed modules
- Backup is recommended before broad upgrades
opam: what it does well
- Free OCaml package manager
- Multiple compiler versions simultaneously
- Isolated switch environments
- Lockfiles and dependency resolution
- Offline installation support
What to know first
- Focused on OCaml packages
- Package operations depend on supported systems
- Source-based workflow may require setup