I have a script where it would be useful to be able to automate my custom cpan configuration.

Currently I have to do this by hand. Something like:

thartman@thartman-laptop:~/nbarter$ cpan

cpan shell -- CPAN exploration and modules installation (v1.8802)
ReadLine support enabled

                                                                      
+                                                                     
+   cpan[1]> o conf prerequisites_policy
    prerequisites_policy [ask]

                                                                      
+                                                                     
+   cpan[2]> o conf prerequisites_policy follow
    prerequisites_policy [follow]

cpan[4]> o conf commit
commit: wrote '/home/thartman/.cpan/CPAN/MyConfig.pm'

                                                                      
+                                                                     
+   cpan[5]> exit
Lockfile removed.
thartman@thartman-laptop:~/nbarter$
[download]

I had hoped I could do something like cpan 'o conf prerequisites_policy_follow; o conf commit'

but that didn't work. Is there some way to do this using the cpan shell? Or some trick with getting bash to give cpan input so it thinks it's coming from the user?

thanks!

UPDATE: google code search had some good examples that I think I can work with, along with merlyn's column.