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

Dear Monks,
I did not find any consistent recommendations on installation of PMs for ActivePerl for windows.
I am usually doing this just by copying to right directories and it works if it is a pure Perl module. However I want to take advantage of the beauty of automatic installation which would pick up dependancies from CPAN if it is possible in ActivePerl at all.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Installing modules in ActivePerl
by linuxer (Curate) on May 14, 2009 at 21:39 UTC
Re: Installing modules in ActivePerl
by CountZero (Bishop) on May 15, 2009 at 06:36 UTC
    If you have installed your AS Perl with the installation wizard, you are already very close to have CPAN working for you.

    Now go out and get yourself a make-utility. I use the latest version of nmake.exe from Microsoft, but older versions work also (most of the time, unless the module tests exceed a large (?) number, in which case it crashes; the newer ones are buried deep inside the SDK-files). Unpack it and put all 3 nmake-files in \perl\bin.

    Now start a DOS-window and type cpan. Answer all the questions (I think I used all the default answers) and you're up-and-running!

    This will work with all pure Perl modules. If there is any to-be-compiled component, then you will have to install a C-compiler suite. I use MinGW. It's free and AS Perl automatically recognizes it.

    This set-up will install and compile most of the CPAN modules. Some refuse however and then I either use PPM or I'm out of luck.

    CountZero

    A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James

      I use the latest version of nmake.exe from Microsoft

      A lot easier, I think, to install dmake. It will work just as well as (if not better than) nmake, and the installation is simpler imo.

      Excellent post CountZero, btw. You've covered those basics in a clear, simple and informative fashion.

      Cheers,
      Rob
        You can install both MinGW and dmake using PPM:
            ppm install MinGW
        
Re: Installing modules in ActivePerl
by helgi (Hermit) on May 15, 2009 at 11:10 UTC
    [~]ppm install MODULE

    --
    Regards,
    Helgi Briem
    hbriem AT f-prot DOT com