in reply to WWW::Mechanize “use constant xx” gets bareword error

Just to confirm, I'm using "perl 5, version 24, subversion 2 (v5.24.2) built for MSWin32-x64-multi-thread"

The code at the error in Utils.pm is

use constant is_perl55 => ($] < 5.005_50);
use constant is_perl56 => ($] < 5.007 && $] > 5.005_50);
use constant is_sane_perl => $] > 5.007;

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I have browsed the lib files but I don't see where "strict subs" is set. Also, my code was working as of 11/24/17.

The output from the code you provided is:

Bareword "is_perl56" not allowed while "strict subs" in use at C:/Perl
+64/lib/ExtUtils/Constant/Utils.pm line 51.
Bareword "is_perl55" not allowed while "strict subs" in use at C:/Perl
+64/lib/ExtUtils/Constant/Utils.pm line 74.
Bareword "is_sane_perl" not allowed while "strict subs" in use at C:/P
+erl64/lib/ExtUtils/Constant/Utils.pm line 116.
Bareword "is_perl55" not allowed while "strict subs" in use at C:/Perl
+64/lib/ExtUtils/Constant/Utils.pm line 123.
Compilation failed in require at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line
+ 100.
        ExtUtils::Constant::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/con
+stant.pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require constant.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm lin
+e 279
        Data::Dumper::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.
+pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require Data/Dumper.pm called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.p
+m line 6
        ExtUtils::Config::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/const
+ant.pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require Config.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 
+104
        Tie::RefHash::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.
+pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require Tie/RefHash.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.p
+m line 11
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constan
+t.pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 
+100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm 
+line 100.
 at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100.
        require constant.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm lin
+e 279
        Data::Dumper::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.
+pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require Data/Dumper.pm called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.p
+m line 6
        ExtUtils::Config::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/const
+ant.pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require Config.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 
+104
        Tie::RefHash::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.
+pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require Tie/RefHash.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.p
+m line 11
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constan
+t.pm line 100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 
+100
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100
Compilation failed in require at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
+.
 at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279.
        Data::Dumper::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm l
+ine 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        require Data/Dumper.pm called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.p
+m line 6
        ExtUtils::Config::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.
+pm line 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        require Config.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 
+104
        Tie::RefHash::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm l
+ine 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        require Tie/RefHash.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.p
+m line 11
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm
+ line 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line
+ 279.
 at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279.
        require Data/Dumper.pm called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.p
+m line 6
        ExtUtils::Config::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.
+pm line 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        require Config.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 
+104
        Tie::RefHash::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm l
+ine 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        require Tie/RefHash.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.p
+m line 11
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm
+ line 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Data/Dumper.pm line 279
Compilation failed in require at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
+.
 at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6.
        ExtUtils::Config::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Confi
+g.pm line 6
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
        require Config.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 
+104
        Tie::RefHash::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm
+ line 6
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
        require Tie/RefHash.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.p
+m line 11
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.
+pm line 6
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm li
+ne 6.
 at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6.
        require Config.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 
+104
        Tie::RefHash::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm
+ line 6
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
        require Tie/RefHash.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.p
+m line 11
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.
+pm line 6
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
        eval {...} called at /Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Config.pm line 6
Compilation failed in require at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104
+.
 at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104.
        Tie::RefHash::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm l
+ine 104
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104
        require Tie/RefHash.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.p
+m line 11
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm
+ line 104
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line
+ 104.
 at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104.
        require Tie/RefHash.pm called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.p
+m line 11
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm
+ line 104
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/Tie/RefHash.pm line 104
Compilation failed in require at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm line 1
+1.
 at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm line 11.
        WWW::Mechanize::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.
+pm line 11
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm line 11
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm line 11
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm line 11
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm li
+ne 11.
 at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm line 11.
        require WWW/Mechanize.pm called at test.pl line 5
        main::BEGIN() called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm line 11
        eval {...} called at C:/Perl64/lib/WWW/Mechanize.pm line 11
Compilation failed in require at test.pl line 5.
 at test.pl line 5.
        main::BEGIN() called at test.pl line 5
        eval {...} called at test.pl line 5
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at test.pl line 5.
 at test.pl line 5

[download]

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: Bareword error in WWW::Mechanize
by shmem (Chancellor) on Nov 28, 2017 at 01:33 UTC 
    use constant is_perl55 => ($] < 5.005_50);
use constant is_perl56 => ($] < 5.007 && $] > 5.005_50);
use constant is_sane_perl => $] > 5.007;

    [download]

    Weird. The "fat comma" ("=>") quotes its left hand side, so strict shouldn't complain. Looks like your perl is broken. Did your Win10 do any updates lately? Carefully check C:/Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/Constant/Utils.pm for any weirdness, and you could move the original file out of the way, make a copy and quote the LHS of the arguments to use, e.g. 

    use constant 'is_perl55' => ($] < 5.005_50);
use constant 'is_perl56' => ($] < 5.007 && $] > 5.005_50);
use constant 'is_sane_perl' => $] > 5.007;

    [download]

    If that fixes the issue, it is time to file a bug report to ActiveState.

    perl -le'print map{pack c,($-++?1:13)+ord}split//,ESEL'
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      I tried quoting as you suggested and it fixed this instance. From there the same condition (and fix) continued in other modules until I gave up. I reinstalled ActivePerl and the problem did not go away.

      Any ideas to try? Or should I contact ActivePerl?

      The last windows update was two weeks prior to the problem, so I don’t think that is an issue.

      Do you think It is worth trying the 32-bit version?

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        Try Strawberry perl, they even have a portable edition. It a sane distribution for Windows and ships with a proper toolchain and lots of additional, handy modules and tools.

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      Not enough info provided to conclude anything other than more info is need, version info as provided by Devel::Modlist
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Re^2: Bareword error in WWW::Mechanize
by choroba (Cardinal) on Nov 28, 2017 at 23:06 UTC 
    Perl64/lib/ExtUtils/constant.pm line 100

    [download]

    There is ExtUtils::Constant to import C header constants via XS, but I can't see lowercase constant anywhere in the ExtUtils namespace.

    ($q=q:Sq=~/;[c](.)(.)/;chr(-||-|5+lengthSq)`"S|oS2"`map{chr |+ord
}map{substrSq`S_+|`|}3E|-|`7**2-3:)=~y+S|`+$1,++print+eval$q,q,a,

    [download]
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      Windows treats Constant.pm as being the same file as constant.pm, that is, you can't have both at the same time in the same directory.

      Renaming Constant.pm to constant.pm changes nothing. In both cases the error references the lowercase file.

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        But Perl doesn't treat them the same. Moreover, use constant ... shouldn't look into ExtUtils namespace, as it doesn't say use ExtUtils::constant. Something's very wrong with your setup.

        ($q=q:Sq=~/;[c](.)(.)/;chr(-||-|5+lengthSq)`"S|oS2"`map{chr |+ord
}map{substrSq`S_+|`|}3E|-|`7**2-3:)=~y+S|`+$1,++print+eval$q,q,a,

        [download]
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        Hi,

        Where is the version information as provided by Devel::Modlist?

        ? What do you get as output from command       perl -V ?

        Blind guess, I  cpanm ExtUtils::MakeMaker and friends, cause ActiveState has patched that before and broken it

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