A CPAN namespace question: Gnift

suaveant has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I recently got my registered name with PAUSE, and am well into development of my first module. Reading the PAUSE docs it said I should discuss a namespace with the community and work out any issues, and I though PerlMonks might be a good place to do that.

I am looking to use the namespace Gnift, (pronnounced niff-t) standing for GNu Internet File Transfer. The goal of the project is to provide a unified interface to various methods to transfer files, such as DBI does for databases and LWP does for url grabs. I am using the API in Graham Barr's Net::FTP that way I figure many people can easily switch their current applications to use Gnift. Right now it uses Net::FTP as a backend for FTP transfers, and have it partially working with SSH transfers using Net::SSH::Perl (which btrott has been VERY helpful with ++).

Should this be under an existing namespace, like Net::Gnift? I'm thinking not, since packages like DBI and LWP are sitting at the top level, but I don't claim to know everything. :)

Input will be much appreciated (ideas on the module itself may be helpful, too).

- Ant

Comment on A CPAN namespace question: Gnift

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Re: A CPAN namespace question: Gnift by MZSanford (Curate) on Jul 24, 2001 at 19:39 UTC
As a network based module, which you are writting as a sort of drop-in replacment (or just similarly interfaced) module to Net::FTP ... i would suggest something under the Net:: namespace. But, this , like many other things, is up to discussion, and i would be interested in seeing other peoples ideas. Thus spake the Master Programmer: "When you have learned to snatch the error code from the trap frame, it will be time for you to leave." -- The Tao of Programming	[reply]
Re: A CPAN namespace question: Gnift by bikeNomad (Priest) on Jul 24, 2001 at 19:41 UTC
I'd call it Net::Gnift, myself. Please don't introduce a new top-level namespace that no one will understand. There's already a lot of clutter in the Module List.	[reply]
Re: A CPAN namespace question: Gnift by Cirollo (Friar) on Jul 24, 2001 at 19:46 UTC
It seems that most Perl module names try to be as straightforward as possible, giving a good hint as to what their purpose is. Maybe your module would be more aptly named Net::FileTransfer or something like that? If you're into Lisp at all, you might be able to get some useful ideas from the Emacs TRAMP package (Transparent Remote (file) Access, Multiple Protocols, what a mouthful of a name). It works a lot like the ange-ftp Emacs package, except it can use rcp, scp, or even stuff mimencoded files through a ssh or telnet session. Any chance that you have your code posted where others can play with it?	[reply]
Re: Re: A CPAN namespace question: Gnift by suaveant (Parson) on Jul 24, 2001 at 20:45 UTC
No, not yet... it needs to be tidied a little before I release... I'll try to get a version out sometime next week that you can look at, I'll send you a /msg - Ant	[reply]