>     Probably g-cpan tool may help here, but I've not tried it yet.
>     Is it able to:
>     - automatically resolve and install deep perl module dependencies
>     - handle interactive Makefile.PL
>     - run tests for all modules by default (without forcing make test on all
>       other packages in portage)
>     - force install on failed tests
>     - local cpan overlays (like cpansite from CPAN::Site)
>     ?

I've found that it's easier to keep a separate
copy of perl (say "/opt/perl") with my own
development environment. I use different gcc
switches for it and use CPAN to maintain the
contents via "perl -MCPAN -e shell". The
"r" and "upgrade" options make it easy enough
to keep it all up to date.

The system's perl (in /usr/bin/perl) I maintain
via emerge, but only to the extent that any
system programs need it.

That leaves me able to install new modules for
development easily enough and bundle them for
use in production via CPAN (or just use CPAN
with a here-script or use #!perl code with
CPAN.pm) to sync production with necessary
modules. I don't have to worry about breaking
any system code since that uses /usr/bin/perl
and its emerged modules.


-- 
Steven Lembark                                            85-09 90th St.
Workhorse Computing                                 Woodhaven, NY, 11421
lembark@...                                      +1 888 359 3508