Fellow Monasterians,

I'm trying to understand CPAN modules. I use them and have installed them (amazingly), but I'm not getting what happens with all those files and make... commands.

I spent several hours today trying to install CPAN modules on my shared web host today by following the host's directions for getting them into my private directory.

I finally gave up and tried Installing Modules on a Web Server which I had to read several times because I didn't believe it. All I apparently have to do is copy the lib folders into the directory in my home that I'm using for modules and set the use lib... in my script.

It was too easy. No telneting in, no make test commands. Maybe it's just web installation that is that easy. Anyway, my question is, what happens behind the scenes during a typical install and what is all that text that goes streaming by in the terminal? What is the difference between FTP'ing the folders and the typical "make" installation?

Thanks in advance.


—Brad
"The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men." George Eliot

In reply to What does module installation really do? by bradcathey

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