Specifying the minimum Perl version for ExtUtils::MakeMaker

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

Hi monkses. What's the best way to put the minimum Perl version number required by a module into the Makefile.PL? For Module::Build I can simply add the version number to the "requires" hash reference, but the equivalent for ExtUtils::MakeMaker (PREREQ_PM) doesn't seem to have that option. Should I simply specify use 5.00x; at the top of the Makefile.PL?

The reason I'm asking is that I don't want the automatic CPAN testers to download and test my module if they've got a lower version of Perl installed than is required. I'm hoping that putting the minimum version somewhere into the build process will prevent this.

Update: seems the correct solution is indeed to add a use 5.00x; to the Makefile.PL. Thank you for your help (useful link that, ferreira!)

All dogma is stupid.

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Re: Specifying the minimum Perl version for ExtUtils::MakeMaker by ferreira (Chaplain) on Feb 29, 2008 at 23:39 UTC
That's the subject of the first Q&A of Notes For CPAN Authors at The CPAN Testers wiki.	[reply]
Re: Specifying the minimum Perl version for ExtUtils::MakeMaker by Tanktalus (Canon) on Feb 29, 2008 at 23:12 UTC
I think the "`use <version number>;`" at the top is likely your best bet... or just skip the Makefile.PL altogether - CPAN seems to understand Module::Build-based modules. (I actually tried to create a new module with Build.PL specifying the minimum perl version, and then asked Build.PL to create the Makefile.PL - seems the Module::Build guys don't know how to do this, either.)	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Specifying the minimum Perl version for ExtUtils::MakeMaker by almut (Canon) on Feb 29, 2008 at 23:30 UTC
Should I simply specify use 5.00x; at the top of the Makefile.PL? The `Makefile.PL` of ExtUtils::MakeMaker itself has `BEGIN { require 5.006; }` at the top, so it can't be all that wrong... :)	[reply] [d/l] [select]