Re: [cobalt-users] Installing Perl Modules

[Will DeHaan <will@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim Vaselopulos wrote:

> *  Is there any way I can set up an alternate location
> for a 'second' .pm directory so I never have to worry
> about screwing up the .pm's that Cobalt uses.

Sure.  
As an example you'll notice that strict.pm is installed by default at:

 /usr/lib/perl5/5.00503/strict.pm.

This module would be invoked by "use strict;" in a perl script.  Create
a directory named "Jim" in:

 /usr/lib/perl5/5.00503/

Now you can place newer or custom perl modules (such as strict.pm) in:

 /usr/lib/perl5/5.00503/Jim/

The new strict.pm would be invoked by "use Jim::strict;" in a perl
script.

> *  If so, how then do I get .pm's from the CPAN and
> installed correctly in the 'second' .pm directory.

I would not use the default installer scripts, if included, but copy the
modules into the special directory manually with cp.

> *  Once this is done, is there anything different I
> have to do when calling out a .pm in a perl program?

Prefix your modules with the directory name, as demonstrated above.


	-- Will

Jim's original mail, unbutchered:
> 
> Help!
> 
> When I was making my purchasing decision a few days
> ago, I was told that the RaQ3i made it very simple to
> install new perl modules.  With this in mind, I said
> goodbye to slow system administrators and purchased a
> RaQ3i.
> 
> Since I got it up and running late last week, the
> RaQ3i has run very well... but, as I have now found
> out, it does not do anything to help installation of
> new perl modules.
> 
> Infact, it is even more troublesome becuase from what
> I understand, I can really screw up the whole Cobalt
> system if I overwrite or upgrade .pm's that Cobalt
> depends on.
> 
> I am resigned to the fact that I'm going to have to
> learn more about the nuts and bolts of Unix system
> administration... but I want to do it intelligently..
> without screwing up my whole system.
> 
> Now that I've vented.. here is my question:
> 
> *  Is there any way I can set up an alternate location
> for a 'second' .pm directory so I never have to worry
> about screwing up the .pm's that Cobalt uses.
> *  If so, how then do I get .pm's from the CPAN and
> installed correctly in the 'second' .pm directory.
> *  Once this is done, is there anything different I
> have to do when calling out a .pm in a perl program?
> 
> Many thanks to those who take the time to read this...
> many more to those who answer.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Jim Vaselopulos
> jim@xxxxxxxx