belg4mit has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Is anybody aware of a generic perl configure script à la configure.sh? Something a user could interact with a --help, not requiring knowledge of the existence of or about ExtUtils::MakeMaker? Has anybody else ever wanted this? I've searched google and CPAN, but mostly come across reference to the perl binary configuration system. If such a thing doesn't exist I'll (eventually) hammer something out, and it will (of course) be extensible ;-) The intent is for use in a mixed (script + module) or script only install. The process would go somethingk like
  1. perl configure.pl
  2. make
  3. make test
  4. make install
All of the magic being in the first step. It'd use Getopt::Long to accept values for the various MakeMaker options, call any user-defined hooks. Write Makefile.PL, and invoke it yield the custom Makefile. Scripts would have their shebang lines set to the local binary location, etc. etc.

--
I'm not belgian but I play one on TV.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: RFC: configure.pl
by PodMaster (Abbot) on Feb 13, 2003 at 06:28 UTC
    I really really really hate it when authors try that configure stuff. It should always be
    1. perl Makefile.PL
    2. make
    3. make test
    4. make install
    As a cpantester, I really really really really hate it when authors throw me curves.

    Now all authors have to remember is that Makefile.PL is a perl program and can do whatever you want it to do (interactively prompt or whatever).

    Module::Build is a great potential contender for replacing MakeMaker.

    I can live with the fact that Module-Build uses Build.PL, and I love the fact that it generates a perl program, but I hate that it still assumes *nix-isms (./Build don't work on windoze -- PATHEXT aside).

    As a module author, I will only consider using Module::Build when it makes it into perl core, and is mature enough, which won't happen anytime soon (i just don't see it happening --- and I ain't including it in my distributions).

    MJD says you can't just make shit up and expect the computer to know what you mean, retardo!
    ** The Third rule of perl club is a statement of fact: pod is sexy.

[reply]
      That's really not the point. If you note, it's intended for non-modules. And I had considered linking configure.pl to Makefile.PL, or otherwise invoking the former from the latter. Yes, Makefile.PL is a perl script (despite the odd choice of extension case). However, it also belongs to an arcane system that only a mother could love.

      --
      I'm not belgian but I play one on TV.

[reply]
[reply]
Re: RFC: configure.pl
by zengargoyle (Deacon) on Feb 13, 2003 at 04:03 UTC

    check this out first, found it today and it seems a great place to start. Module::Build

[reply]

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