Can't install a modern Perl from source

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

Fedora 14

    $ uname -a
    Linux giles 2.6.35.13-92.fc14.i686 #1 SMP Sat May 21 17:39:42 UTC 
+2011 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
[download]

Trying to install a modern Perl (anything greater than 5.12.0 has this problem for me) from source fails. Here's what I try:

    wget http://search.cpan.org/CPAN/authors/id/J/JE/JESSE/perl-5.14.1
+.tar.gz
    tar -zxvf perl-5.14.1.tar.gz
    cd perl-5.14.1
    sh Configure -d
    make
[download]

And I always (slightly different depending on the version) end up with an error message like this after some time:

    Running Makefile.PL in ext/attributes
    ../../miniperl -I../../lib Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=perl INSTALLMAN
+1DIR=none   
    INSTALLMAN3DIR=none PERL_CORE=1 LIBPERL_A=libperl.a
    Writing Makefile for attributes
    Writing MYMETA.yml
    make[1]: Entering directory `/tmp/perl-5.14.1/ext/attributes'
    make[1]: Leaving directory `/tmp/perl-5.14.1/ext/attributes'
    Making all in ext/attributes
    make all PERL_CORE=1 LIBPERL_A=libperl.a
    make[1]: Entering directory `/tmp/perl-5.14.1/ext/attributes'
    cp attributes.pm ../../lib/attributes.pm
    make[1]: *** No rule to make target `ExtUtils/xsubpp', needed by `
+attributes.c'.  Stop.
    make[1]: Leaving directory `/tmp/perl-5.14.1/ext/attributes'
    Unsuccessful make(ext/attributes): code=512 at make_ext.pl line 46
+3.
    make: *** [ext/attributes/pm_to_blib] Error 25
[download]

Any thoughts as to how I can get past this? I've tried with perlbrew and it fails in the same ways. My system has 5.12.3 installed so I know it must be possible and I can install 5.8.X without a problem (by hand and with perlbrew).

Comment on Can't install a modern Perl from source Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Can't install a modern Perl from source by locked_user sundialsvc4 (Abbot) on Jul 16, 2011 at 11:56 UTC
Let’s assume that you have checked your system for damage and found none, and let’s also assume that what you are seeing is repeatable at-will after doing `make distclean` and so-forth. (If that is not yet the case, this is step-one.) I would start by examining the generated `Makefile`, then `grep`ping the source tree (or the system’s include-directories) for that identifier. (“`grep -rilw foobar .`” ... yup, I can do it in my sleep ...) The next thing that I would `grep` is the various Configure control-files which determine exactly how that Makefile is to be built. Perhaps there is an option that you need to specify in the `configure` step. Perhaps there is a step that is not working properly. When you run `configure`, capture the output to a file (if it isn’t being captured already) and `grep` or `less` that file. Look specifically for any point where it appears to be making tests and decisions related to the problem area. Look carefully for any error or warning indications. It is extremely easy to let important clues “just breeze by.” Or ... well, it’s damm unlikely but it’s possible ... maybe, gosh darn it, there’s a bug here. If so, undoubtedly it has already been reported, so you would look at the ticket-list for this distribution.
Re^2: Can't install a modern Perl from source by mpeters (Chaplain) on Jul 18, 2011 at 14:49 UTC
Yes, I can recreate this problem at-will (following the same steps I mentioned above) and I don't think a distclean really matters if I'm downloading from source right? Here's my full configure output and my full make output. I'm not really sure what I should be looking for, but I'll keep trying. See anything useful?	[reply]
Re^3: Can't install a modern Perl from source by mpeters (Chaplain) on Jul 19, 2011 at 13:42 UTC
Turns out it was my GREP_OPTIONS environment variable. I had this in my .bashrc `export GREP_OPTIONS="--exclude-from ~/.grep_excludes --color"` Seems some files were accidentally matching my excludes rules and the color was throwing off something else. Removing that fixed everything up (except for a single failure in t/porting/exec-bit.t).	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Can't install a modern Perl from source by Anonymous Monk on Jul 16, 2011 at 06:00 UTC
Didn't the last problem turn out to Solved - corrupt /usr/bin/ls I would look for more corruption	[reply]
Re^2: Can't install a modern Perl from source by mpeters (Chaplain) on Jul 18, 2011 at 14:43 UTC
How would you go about looking for more corruption? This system runs lots of other software without a problem. And can run perl 5.12.3 (the one that came with the OS) just fine. And it can also build and run perl 5.8.8, perl 5.8.9 and perl 5.10.0.	[reply]
Re: Can't install a modern Perl from source by perl.j (Pilgrim) on Jul 16, 2011 at 00:10 UTC
What OS are you using?	[reply]
Re^2: Can't install a modern Perl from source by Anonymous Monk on Jul 16, 2011 at 05:12 UTC
Noted at the start ... Fedora 14 `$ uname -a Linux giles 2.6.35.13-92.fc14.i686 #1 SMP Sat May 21 17:39: +42 UTC +2011 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux` [download]	[reply] [d/l]