The problem is that the file: detector.xs is being compiled as C, but it contains C++ extensions:

extern "C" {
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The file compiles clean (with a couple of trivial warnings), if you add option -TP to cause the compiler to treat the file as C++.

Unfortunately, as with all these build mechanisms, the process is so stupidly convoluted that working out how to add a simple compiler option is your typical OO maze of dark, twisty packages.

The way I tested it was:

1. start the compile (using command nmake) at the command line and the immediately pause it using ^S.
2. Switch to another session, and make a copy of the file under a different name: Encode-Detect-1.01\lib\Encode\Detect\Detector.ccs.

   This is a compiler "options response file" that is generated automatically, but then deleted.

3. Switch back to the first session and hit any key allowing the compile to continue to failure.
4. Edit the file you saved and add -TP as a new last line.
5. Rename the file back to Encode-Detect-1.01\lib\Encode\Detect\Detector.ccs
6. Switch back to the first session, and C&P the last compiler command issued by the nmake. It should look something like this:

   C:\Perl64\packages\Encode-Detect-1.01>cl -nologo -c @"lib\Encode\Detec
   +t\Detector.ccs" -Fo"lib\Encode\Detect\Detector.obj" "lib\Encode\Detec
   +t\Detector.c"
   Detector.c
   lib\Encode\Detect\Detector.xs(79) : warning C4267: 'argument' : conver
   +sion from 'size_t' to 'PRUint32', possible loss of data
   lib\Encode\Detect\Detector.xs(109) : warning C4267: 'argument' : conve
   +rsion from 'size_t' to 'PRUint32', possible loss of data
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At that point, reissuing the nmake ought to allow things to complete--but it doesn't:

C:\Perl64\packages\Encode-Detect-1.01>nmake

Microsoft (R) Program Maintenance Utility Version 9.00.21022.08
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

        C:\Perl64\bin\perl.exe Build --makefile_env_macros 1
ExtUtils::Mkbootstrap::Mkbootstrap('blib\arch\auto\Encode\Detect\Detec
+tor\Detector.bs')
Generating script 'lib\Encode\Detect\Detect.lds'
link @"lib\Encode\Detect\Detect.lds" -out:"blib\arch\auto\Encode\Detec
+t\Detector\Detector.dll"
LINK : warning LNK4044: unrecognized option '/lstdc++'; ignored
Detect.def : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol boot_Encode__De
+tect
Detect.def : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol boot_Encode__De
+tect
lib\Encode\Detect\Detect.lib : fatal error LNK1120: 2 unresolved exter
+nals
mt -nologo -manifest "lib\Encode\Detect\Detect.dll.manifest" -outputre
+source:"blib\arch\auto\Encode\Detect\Detector\Detector.dll";2

lib\Encode\Detect\Detect.dll.manifest : general error c1010070: Failed
+ to load and parse the manifest. The system cannot find the file spec
+ified.
Manifying blib\lib/Encode/Detect.pm -> blib\libdoc\Encode.Detect.3
Manifying blib\lib/Encode/Detect/Detector.pm -> blib\libdoc\Encode.Det
+ect.Detector.3
HTMLifying blib\lib\Encode\Detect.pm -> blib\libhtml\site\lib\Encode\D
+etect.html
Build: blib\lib\Encode\Detect.pm: cannot resolve L<Encode> in paragrap
+h 18.
HTMLifying blib\lib\Encode\Detect\Detector.pm -> blib\libhtml\site\lib
+\Encode\Detect\Detector.html
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And I haven't been able to hack my way past that one because again, the autogenerate linker response file: lib\Encode\Detect\Detect.lds is deleted automatically (why?), and it happens too fast for me to be able to intervene.

So, your only choice is to try and navigate that purile maze of OO dark, twisty packages to try and work out what is generated inside that file. If you succeed in doing that, then you might stand some chance of working out why it is wrong.

Or you can throw the problem back at the authors of the module and the build process and wait until they decide who is in the wrong and put it right. Say, 3 years from now if you are lucky!

The file compiles clean ... if you add option -TP to cause the compiler to treat the file as C++ .

Easiest way to achieve that is to start the build process with perl Makefile.PL CC="cl -TP".
For me, that allows Encode-Detect-1.01 to build ok (though I first had to copy the 2 header files that are in the 'include' folder into the 'src' folder). However, I strike runtime problems when running the test suite:

Can't locate loadable object for module Encode::Detect::Detector
[download]

I haven't the time at the moment to take a look at what's going wrong there. It's the same problem if I build with MinGW (starting with perl Makefile.PL CC="g++").

Cheers,
Rob

That adds the -TP to the compiler commands for every file, rather than just the one that needs it. In this case, that doesn't seem to prevent the rest from compiling ok, but is that always true?

But I don't see how to use that syntax to remove unneeded options?

Didn't you see all the noise and errors that I'm seeing at the linker stage?

Using response files instead of huge command lines is a step forward over EU::MM--but automatically deleting them so the programmer cannot look to see what options were used and perhaps try adjusting them, before sitting down to try and work out how to pursuade build.pl to produce what you've discovered works, is three steps backward.

Read more... (34 kB)

---

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

Replace the Module::Build Makefile.PL with an EU::MM one:

#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;
use ExtUtils::MakeMaker qw(WriteMakefile);

my @INC = (' -Isrc -Iinclude');

WriteMakefile(
    NAME              => 'Encode::Detect::Detector',
    VERSION_FROM      => 'Detector.pm',
    PREREQ_PM         => {},
    ABSTRACT_FROM     => 'Detector.pm',
    AUTHOR            => '',
    INC               => join(' ', @INC),
    C                 => [ glob 'src/*.cpp Detector.c' ],
    H                 => [ glob 'src/*.h' ],
    OBJECT            => q/$(O_FILES)/,
);
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$ perl Makefile.PL CC="cl -TP"

$ nmake
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$ copy *.obj src

$ nmake
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$ copy Detect.pm blib\lib\Encode

$ nmake test
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use ExtUtils::MakeMaker;
use Config;

die "Wrong platform" if $Config{cc} ne 'cl' &&
                        $Config{cc} ne 'gcc';

WriteMakefile(
     NAME => 'Encode::Detect::Detector',
     CC => $Config{cc} eq 'cl' ? 'cl -TP' : 'g++',
     VERSION_FROM => 'Detector.pm',
     LIBS => $Config{make} eq 'nmake' ? '-L. -lns':
             '-L./src -lns',
     INC => '-I./src',
);
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This doesn't seem to work with the latest ActivePerl (5.10.1.1007)

Executing perl Makefile.PL CC=g++ reports


C:\Packages\Encode-Detect-1.01>perl Makefile.PL CC="cl -TP"
# running Build.PL --config cc=cl -TP
cl : Command line warning D9035 : option 'o' has been deprecated and w
+ill be rem
oved in a future release
compilet-1026621440.c
'dlltool' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
LINK : warning LNK4044: unrecognized option '/o'; ignored
LINK : warning LNK4044: unrecognized option '/Wl,--base-file,C:\DOCUME
+~1\VMUser\
LOCALS~1\Temp\compilet.base'; ignored
LINK : warning LNK4044: unrecognized option '/Wl,--image-base,0xa03000
+0'; ignore
d
LINK : fatal error LNK1181: cannot open input file 'C:\DOCUME~1\VMUser
+\LOCALS~1\
Temp\compilet.dll'
'dlltool' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
LINK : warning LNK4044: unrecognized option '/o'; ignored
LINK : warning LNK4044: unrecognized option '/Wl,--image-base,0xa03000
+0'; ignore
d
LINK : fatal error LNK1181: cannot open input file 'C:\DOCUME~1\VMUser
+\LOCALS~1\
Temp\compilet.dll'
Creating new 'MYMETA.yml' with configuration results
Creating new 'Build' script for 'Encode-Detect' version '1.01'
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Not sure if this is already an issue but following the guidelines above the nmake test fails and finally trying to make install reports this:


blib\arch\auto\Encode\Detect\Detector\Detector.dll : fatal error LNK11
+20: 5 unre
solved externals
NMAKE : fatal error U1077: '"c:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 
+9.0\VC\BIN
\link.EXE"' : return code '0x460'
Stop.
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It's a pity since it was working fine under perl 5.8.8

Any workarounds?

Buy a Mac.

:-D