I don't mean modules installed from cpan, this is specifically for things like Perl and Python modules packaged in Debian. On purpose, there is usually no way t

I don't mean modules installed from cpan, this is specifically for things like Perl and Python modules packaged in Debian. On purpose, there is usually no way to install more than one version of those with the system package manager. Maintainers seem to be doing a fine job of keeping them up-to-date. One of the major reasons to do this is so packages that depend on those libraries actually DO get tested with updates and don't get neglected and stuck on some old buggy version. There are a lot of reasons to prefer static linking, but to me the argument of "it means you don't need to keep your package up to date with bug and security fixes" never held up, from a distro point of view anyway.