When should you prefer fatpacks and App::FatPacker, and when should you avoid it?

When to Prefer FatPacks and App::FatPacker

FatPacks and the App::FatPacker module are useful tools for bundling Perl applications. They allow developers to package an entire application, along with its dependencies, into a single file. This approach can simplify deployment and make it easier to manage Perl applications.

When to Use FatPacks

  • Ease of Deployment: If you need to deploy applications across different environments where you may not have control over installed modules, FatPacks can help.
  • Single File Distribution: When you want to share your application as a single file, FatPacks help reduce complexity.
  • Dependency Management: They ensure that all necessary modules are included, minimizing the risk of version conflicts.

When to Avoid FatPacks

  • Large File Size: If your application has a lot of dependencies, using a FatPack can create a significantly larger file, which may be counterproductive for distribution.
  • Performance Issues: Loading a large, packed file may result in slower startup times compared to using separate modules.
  • Maintenance Overhead: When regularly updating your application, it can be cumbersome to manage and rebuild the FatPack each time a dependency changes.

Example Usage of App::FatPacker

#!/usr/bin/env perl use App::FatPacker; # Specify the script to pack App::FatPacker::fatpack('your_script.pl');

fatpacks App::FatPacker Perl deployment single file application dependency management