I have a "largish" Perl application (about 7000 lines, with maybe ten perl modules installed) for PC users. I give the application away freely for those interested, but it's a narrow niche, and most of the users never heard of Perl. So far I have been able to get new users going with carefully detailed instructions to go to ActiveStates, install Perl, the run PPM, etc. It works, but I get a lot of calls for help from some poor drub who can't read and follow even simple, basic instructions.

There are many potential users who could benefit from my program, but simply aren't willing or able to go to the work necessary to set up the Perl environment. I know I am losing audience because my program is simply too hard for the unsophisticated PC user to get going. The purpose here is to sell folks on how EASY perl is to use, not scare them away with how HARD it is.

I could Auto-install the various modules (although that seems to be unreliable in my experience) but that still leaves the complexity of installing ActiveStates, etc.

Is there any reasonable way of providing a batch file, or other "one-click" tool to allow an unsophisticated user to easily install the complete environment ready to go? I have used a couple of installers in the past, and while they can get all MY files in place painlessly, they can't seem to do the whole job.

What do the Monks recommend?

Nat

In reply to Installer for Perl Application by wa4otj

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