Most of the pure-Perl modules are likely to work (that is, those without XS (binary) components). Perl code is nearly always perfectly forward-compatible.

On the other hand, any modules that contain XS extensions will need to be reinstalled. This is because the binary interface is the same across the entire version 5.6 version (5.6.0 to 5.6.2) different for 5.8 (5.8.0 to 5.8.8), and will change again in 5.10.

Such modules are installed in different directories (specifically in a .../mach directory). You can find out how many such directories there are with the following one-liner:

  perl -le 'print for grep {m(/mach$)} @INC'

[download]

All of the modules found there will need to be audited to see if you are using them. Those that are will need to be recompiled and installed. Slightly more brute force is to list all the *.pm files found therein:

  find `perl -le 'print for grep {m(/mach$)} @INC'` -name '*.pm'

[download]

The results aren't as bad as you might think. For instance, the Encode distribution contains 22 different modules that will be installed under /mach.

• another intruder with the mooring in the heart of the Perl

In reply to Re: upgrade from 5.6.1 to 5.8 by grinder
in thread upgrade from 5.6.1 to 5.8 by raja.b4u

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