dprovost1990 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hello,

I am trying to install different versions of perl using perl brew, each time it fails. Both logs have the following type of error:

makefile:955: recipe for target 'test harness' failed

I'm new to perl and need some help getting aroudn this. I've tried to install two versions of perl with perlbrew by typing:

perlbrew install perl-version

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Perlbrew installing perl failed
by Anonymous Monk on May 13, 2015 at 07:02 UTC
      Excellent advice, IMHO.

      Cheers,
      Rob
      I'm reading a book called Beginning Perl and it suggests using perlbrew because you can switch between different versions if needed and even test your code on different versions of perl.
        To change from one version of perl to another, you generally just need to modify $PATH.
        You can use perlbrew if you wish ... or you could alter $PATH from the command line ... or you could run a script that effects the required change.
        I choose the last of those options and have not yet investigated the perlbrew approach. (Given that I'm satisfied with my chosen approach, it's unlikely that I will ever play with perlbrew.)

        In addition to AM's comments, it occurs to me that your problem might be unrelated to perlbrew.
        The problem you've struck seems to be a fairly rare one. Googling for "recipe for target 'test harness' failed" throws up only this thread.
        As AM noted, we really need a bit more information about the error.
        Could you give us some context by providing a few of the lines that precede the one you quoted in your original post ?
        Also, which version of perl are you trying to install, and what operating system are you using ?
        Do you know what "configure" command perlbrew ran ?


        Cheers,
        Rob

        I'm reading a book called Beginning Perl and it suggests using perlbrew because you can switch between different versions if needed and even test your code on different versions of perl.

        You don't need perlbrew to install two different versions of perl and to switch between them -- perlbrew is just a middleman, and if it isn't helping you, cut it out :)

        Also, if you want actual help , you need provide more information

        A single random message about some unknown makefile is not enough details... installing perl involves at least 100 makefiles

Re: Perlbrew installing perl failed
by CountZero (Bishop) on May 17, 2015 at 17:18 UTC
    From the discussion here it seems to be a problem in some sub-versions of Perl 5.20, but it should be corrected as from Perl 5.20.1-1. What Perl versions did you try to install?

    CountZero

    A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James

    My blog: Imperial Deltronics
Re: Perlbrew installing perl failed
by mimosinnet (Beadle) on Mar 16, 2016 at 16:55 UTC

    Could this be related to this post in Stack Overflow?