It doesn't matter where you unpack and build the module - you should run make install to install them properly. If you want to install the module into a specific directory do it like this: 
perl Makefile.PL PREFIX=~/somewhere
make
make test
make install

[download]
update: read ExtUtils::MakeMaker's section on "PREFIX and LIB attribute"
"What should it profit a man, if he should win a flame war, yet lose his cool?"

In reply to Re: Where to unpack CPAN modules by Joost
in thread Where to unpack CPAN modules by throop

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