Perl IDE and Perl Express not working with 5.10

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

Hi, I haven`t used Perl much in recent years but am currently writing a new version of an application I wrote back in 2003. I`m reusing existing code but also using Tkx instead of Tk and the application is going to change a lot, I`m adding new features.
The first phase of the project is to get the application working with the latest version of Perl (I used 5.6 originally) and to merge a few smaller applications into a main Tkx application. I`ve done this without needing to debug section of the code. I`ve used Perl IDE and also been trying Perl Express and both have worked so far.However, I now need to use breakpoints and step code but both of these IDE`s are not working. PerlIDE is complaining about the perl5db.pl file whenever I try to run a script with a breakpoint inserted and Perl Express simply seems to just hang as soon as I insert a breakpoint and run the script.
So I`m assuming these IDE`s are not happy with the latest version of Perl? If this is the case, can anyone recommend a good free IDE and cheap one?

Comment on Perl IDE and Perl Express not working with 5.10

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Re: Perl IDE and Perl Express not working with 5.10 by ussuriysk (Initiate) on Jan 29, 2009 at 21:14 UTC
Ditto! I'm using the Open Perl IDE abandonware from sourceforge, and I assume from your mention of the perl5db.pl file, you've got the same. I got mine working (see qualifications below) by editing the use statements in the file: `use strict; no strict "refs"; use Win32; # add this use Cwd; use File::Spec; use IO::Socket::INET; use feature ':5.10'; # add this use Switch; # add this if you want to use given/when` [download] However, the IDE has some 'issues'. You can set a breakpoint only on a statement in the edit window; there is no way to set conditional breakpoints. And for reasons that are beyond me, when you are working with a GUI done in Tkx, you can no longer look at the contents of variables in the variables window - they all say <internal item>. I cannot make Perl Express work at all, I just keep getting a warning dialog letting me know that the debugger is running. I am more or less happy with Open Perl IDE within its limitations, but like you I'd love to find a good, working free IDE - I work for a nonprofit and there is zero chance that they will buy software. Hope my two cents' worth helps.	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: Perl IDE and Perl Express not working with 5.10 by DarrenM (Initiate) on Jan 29, 2009 at 21:56 UTC
Thanks for your reply. I`m still not having any luck with it Perl IDE. I`m using Vista 64-bit and wondering if that has anything to do with it. My code executes fine, I just can`t use breakpoints to debug. After making the changes, when I use a breakpoint, perlide now does nothing when I run the script. In fact I can`t even close PerlIDE after I have run a script with a breakpoint I have downloaded Komodo IDE as a trial and will see if that at least works. If not, something may be wrong with my environment setup.	[reply]
Re: Perl IDE and Perl Express not working with 5.10 by holli (Abbot) on Jan 30, 2009 at 08:25 UTC
I'm one of the 55% print debuggers ( I usually debug via... ), so I'd say change your debugging habbits and abandon the debugger =). If you use a proper logging solution for your debugging-messages, you even get the extra benefit of decent bugreports when the app is used from another user. holli When you're up to your ass in alligators, it's difficult to remember that your original purpose was to drain the swamp.	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Perl IDE and Perl Express not working with 5.10 by whereiskurt (Friar) on Jan 30, 2009 at 13:48 UTC
Hey DarrenM! I've been having a lot of luck using this plugin for Eclipse called "E-P-I-C": http://www.eclipse.org http://www.epic-ide.org/index.php I know that Eclipse is a kind of a beast, but, for my purposes it's great. It definitely has debugging breakpoint support, and a buncho' other neat things. It works great on Linux and Win32 for sure. Kurt	[reply]