Some of the best things in life are free. So is Perl. Although bundled Perl distributions are frequently available on CD-ROM, perhaps installed as a core part of your operating system, most people download Perl from an online archive. CPAN, the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network, is the main distribution point for all things Perl .Whether you are looking for Perl itself, for a module, or for documentation about Perl, CPAN (http://www.cpan.org/) is the place to go. The ongoing development and enhancement of Perl is very much a cooperative effort, and CPAN is the place where the work of many individuals comes together.