Well just to say that I usually work on linux, I have generally done manual building on windows (cygwin, though sometimes in dos shell). And lots of modules barf big time. Most recently I spent a lot of time trying to compile one module (I think it was Storable). I got part of it to work (make ok but linking failed) after trying to get it to use nmake and link from vc++ cd (without installing the cd since my disk was full, erm).

Anyway, in the end I am using Storable fine on windows but think I am using a version that came with the perl installation. Or I built it okay and forgot how I did it then installed it and forgot that too. :p

To me nmake does not seem to solve all problems. I think it would be really really good to have a faq on PM (which I'd read too!) on how to build perl / perl modules on windows with free software. (i.e. is the answer cygwin, mingw, deeper activestate and module building knowledge, or what? Maybe we should be building our own perl in cygwin and not using activestate?) Anyway my motto about modules and windows is "it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings". I definitely am not going to try anything with Inline::C anytime soon on windows anyway.