Re: Perl build and ubuntu problem...

Firstly, you may have to install cdebconf (which is written in C instead of perl) to make package management work before you restore your system perl. Secondly, reinstall the "perl" package (either by downloading it from http://packages.ubuntu.com/ or by APT which should start working after installing cdebconf).

Another option might be putting all Debconf-related modules into /opt/perl/lib/... (somewhere info @INC), since debconf is written in pure Perl (without XS).

You can also just unpack the perl package file using dpkg-deb and put the real /usr/bin/perl back.

Overwriting /usr/bin/perl is not a good idea, consider changing install scripts to modify (at least) PATH and PERL5LIB environment variables. Also, have a look at perlbrew and perlall, which also automate installing non-system perl without breaking things.

Comment on Re: Perl build and ubuntu problem...

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Re^2: Perl build and ubuntu problem... by Gib (Novice) on May 30, 2013 at 08:24 UTC
Just wanted to say thanks. This has got me sorted until I can sort a better long term solution. For the record in case it helps others, I did an ln -s /usr/share/perl5/Debconf /opt/perl/lib/site_perl/5.14.2/ which has allowed system package management to work with APT and perl to coexist. I'll try and rearrange some of the other bits as well in future so this isn't needed, as well as look at perlbrew.	[reply]

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Re^2: Perl build and ubuntu problem...
by Gib (Novice) on May 30, 2013 at 08:24 UTC

For the record in case it helps others, I did an ln -s /usr/share/perl5/Debconf /opt/perl/lib/site_perl/5.14.2/ which has allowed system package management to work with APT and perl to coexist. I'll try and rearrange some of the other bits as well in future so this isn't needed, as well as look at perlbrew.

[reply]