Do you have any interest in Dist::Zilla? Here is a walkthrough that seems pretty good. I've yet to even look at Dist::Zilla. It's mostly useful if you have to manage your own CPAN modules. I don't have any CPAN modules so I've yet to have much use for it.

Of late I've noticed a trend with at least a few major projects. Most of the key developers don't read the users mailing list, but instead insist that people come to IRC if they want help (I thought this was an appropriate response). I've seen this on a number of important mailing lists such as DBIx::Class, Catalyst, and Moose.

This is ridiculous. With mailing lists you get easily searchable archives and people can read exchanges at their leisure. When a question or answer is presented everyone on the list can benefit (and, thanks to searchable archives and the miracle of internet search engines, people who aren't subscribed can benefit...even years later). With IRC you get none of that. Only the people who are on-line and paying attention at the time get the benefit. I don't understand the reasoning behind this preference for IRC and shunning of mailing lists. It strikes me as a shift to move closer to the Cathedral and farther from the Bazaar.

One project that seems to have struck a good balance is the Subversion project. Many of their developers talk to one another via IRC, but they also realize that most people aren't on IRC at the time they are on. So what do they do? They post transcripts of important conversations to the mailing list. This sparks new conversations...all of which will be seen by all subscribers and anyone else who is interested.