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

I am troubled, and exhausted on trying to find a simple answer. Which is do I need perl on my hard drive, to install it on my internet website. Most cases when I download a perl/cgi script and upload on my website I get an error message stating unvalid win32 application. I just am worried about downloading perl which is about 9mb.

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Re: installing perl on website
by Old_Gray_Bear (Bishop) on May 11, 2004 at 01:52 UTC
    You would need to have a perl installation on the server hosting the website. Is the issue the time that it will take to down-load, or the amount of disk-space? If it's download time (over a slow | flakey | expensive) conection, you might wander over to the ActiveState website and see about getting their CD. Last time I looked it was around $5 (US), plus a couple more for postage.

    ----
    I Go Back to Sleep, Now.

    OGB

Re: installing perl on website
by dragonchild (Archbishop) on May 11, 2004 at 01:55 UTC
    If you want to use Perl on your Win32 machine, you will need to download ActivePerl, from ActiveState. Period. If it's 9mb, it's 9mb. (Personally, I'm surprised it's only 9mb.) Download it and deal with it.

    Now, I doubt that your personal computer is the server for your internet website. If you want to use a Perl/CGI script on that machine, you will need to discuss that with the company that provides the space for your website. They will most likely have a number of rules / standards for how a Perl/CGI script is to be installed and administered.

    Additionally, I would not trust a Perl/CGI script that I downloaded off the 'Net. Unless you learn what it does, you have no idea how it works or if it will destroy the machine it's on and upload all the passwords to a hacker.

    ------
    We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

    Then there are Damian modules.... *sigh* ... that's not about being less-lazy -- that's about being on some really good drugs -- you know, there is no spoon. - flyingmoose

    I shouldn't have to say this, but any code, unless otherwise stated, is untested