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

My environment requires an HTTP proxy server. I am using modules that use LWP::UserAgent internally, but do not provide a programmatic way to set a proxy server.

I know that LWP::Simple will pay attention to the http_proxy environment variable, but LWP::UserAgent does not appear to do so.

Is there a way I can force LWP::UserAgent within the modules I am using to use our proxy server without modifying their source code?

  • Comment on Forcing LWP-UserAgent to use a proxy server without modifying code

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Re: Forcing LWP-UserAgent to use a proxy server without modifying code
by Corion (Patriarch) on Jan 04, 2008 at 18:04 UTC

    Reading the LWP::UserAgent documentation, you will find that $ENV{HTTP_PROXY} is only evaluated if you call the $ua->env_proxy method. You can either modify your code or modify (say) LWP/UserAgent.pm so that the ->new constructor automatically calls env_proxy.

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      I successfully modified the source to LWP/UserAgent as you suggested. Line 98 of the version of UserAgent.pm that I have calls the env_proxy method if the correct parameter has been passed to it. I simply modified it so it always calls the method. Thanks!
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        Umph. And the next time you get a New version of LWP from CPAN? What happens to your change on line 98, then?

        Hand-editing CPAN modules is a chancy proposition at best. You are setting yourself up to strange bugs in the future; and, what have you just done to the other folks using LWP::UserAgent? Suddenly their code breaks because they aren't using a proxy...? Also, is this code going to be run on other machines? Are you going to make the change to line 98 everywhere? Sigh.

        I'd strongly suggest that you rethink this policy. Make a local copy of LWP::UA in your ~home directory and edit *that* if you have absolutely to. Changing the universal copy of a CPAN module -- this is just Not A Good Idea.

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

        OGB

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