it wouldn't build with a modern GCC

D:\>perl -V:cc
cc='gcc';

D:\>perl -e "print $]"
5.006002
[download]

That is, of course, built using the MinGW port of gcc (version 3.2.x, I think). I also had a 5.6.1 built using the same compiler - but it has long been deleted.
Not sure that 3.2.x qualifies as "modern", ftm ...

Cheers,
Rob