Perl Installation on Darwin

[Jim Keenan]

I'm just beginning to explore Mac OS X. I note that my iBook came
with Perl 5.8.1 installed, but I've heard that it's not a complete
installation. I've tried to install CPAN modules only to get messages
suggesting I do a clean build. One thing is evident: the Perl
directory hierarchy is considerably different from what I've
encountered on Windows (ActivePerl) and Linux (Redhat 7.2 came with
5.6.0).

Since I've never built Perl from source before, I'm wondering: Has
anyone written a primer on installation of Perl on Darwin, i.e., Perl
on Darwin for Dummies (or, at least, for Beginners)?

Jim Keenan

 

[Ben Morrow]

Quoth (e-mail address removed) (Jim Keenan):

I'm just beginning to explore Mac OS X. I note that my iBook came
with Perl 5.8.1 installed, but I've heard that it's not a complete
installation. I've tried to install CPAN modules only to get messages
suggesting I do a clean build. One thing is evident: the Perl
directory hierarchy is considerably different from what I've
encountered on Windows (ActivePerl) and Linux (Redhat 7.2 came with
5.6.0).

Since I've never built Perl from source before, I'm wondering: Has
anyone written a primer on installation of Perl on Darwin, i.e., Perl
on Darwin for Dummies (or, at least, for Beginners)?

I'm not really an OSX user, but I have perfectly successfully built perl
in the usual manner (install gcc etc. from the Apple CDs, download
perl-5.8.x.tar.gz from CPAN, untar, ./Configure; make; make install) on
an OSX box.

Ben

 

[Sisyphus]

I'm just beginning to explore Mac OS X. I note that my iBook came
with Perl 5.8.1 installed, but I've heard that it's not a complete
installation. I've tried to install CPAN modules only to get messages
suggesting I do a clean build. One thing is evident: the Perl
directory hierarchy is considerably different from what I've
encountered on Windows (ActivePerl) and Linux (Redhat 7.2 came with
5.6.0).

Since I've never built Perl from source before, I'm wondering: Has
anyone written a primer on installation of Perl on Darwin, i.e., Perl
on Darwin for Dummies (or, at least, for Beginners)?

Just to point out (in case you're unaware of it) that the perl source
contains a file called 'README.macosx' which would be worth reading
before you build.

Cheers,
Rob

To reply by email u have to take out the u in kalinaubears.

 

[Sherm Pendley]

I note that my iBook came with Perl 5.8.1 installed, but I've heard that
it's not a complete installation.

You've been misled. The Perl that ships with Mac OS X is complete, and
includes all the standard modules, POD documents, command-line tools, etc.

You *do* need to install the appropriate developer tools if you want to
build CPAN modules - Xcode for Panther, or Project Builder for older
releases.

One thing is evident: the Perl directory hierarchy is considerably
different from what I've encountered on Windows (ActivePerl) and Linux

Yes, it is, but don't let that bother you. The makefile that's created by
running Makefile.PL will know where to put things, so it's not something
you need to worry about.

Also, if you want to build Perl from source, it's *not* recommended that you
mirror Apple's default directory layout. Instead, just use the default
prefix of /usr/local, which will result in a layout like the one you're
used to, and leave the default Perl indisturbed.

Since I've never built Perl from source before, I'm wondering: Has
anyone written a primer on installation of Perl on Darwin

readme.macosx

sherm--

 

[Jim Keenan]

Thanks to Ben, Sisyphus (as always) and Sherm for responding. I had
read the INSTALL but had overlooked README.macosx. The gist of your
comments was confirmed by Randal Schwartz at an ny.pm meeting last
night, and I successfully built Perl 5.8.4 from source this morning.

One note: From Ben's comments, echoed by both MacOS X Help and
Randal's comments, I was expecting to find the XTools software on 2
extra CDs. I couldn't locate those CDs, but after about 10 minutes on
the phone Apple Help was able to tell me that that software shipped on
the iBook G4 itself. It was located at /Applications/Installers/Xcode
Tools. It took 5-10 minutes for the Xcode Tools to install; then I
installed Perl with defaults by following the instructions in INSTALL,
modified only to say 'sudo make install' and provide a password.

I have further questions, but I'll start a new thread for those.
Thank you very much.

jimk