[MacPerl] MakeMaker, Makefile.PL and Modules

[guinn@mail.utexas.edu (Tim Guinn)]

I'm trying to install a few modules (CGI.pm-2.25, NNTPClient-0.26, GD-1.14,
e.g.) which work fine for me in UNIX, but, I'm having trouble with them on
MacOS.

Quoting a relevant exchange from the MacPerl archives:

   >Matthias Ulrich Neeracher (neeri@iis.ee.ethz.ch)
   >Mon, 26 Aug 1996 14:49:32 +0200
   >
   >    "Craig R. Sadler" <craig@libweb.sdsu.edu> writes:
   >
   >>    using MacPerl 5.1or2b2, My machine (6100/66) DIES (halted dead in
   >>    it's tracks) with:
   >>
   >>        "On MacOS, we need to build under the Perl source directory";
   >
   >This simply means that your extension should be copied into the
   >ext folder in the MacPerl source distribution, nd that it's no
   >possible to build extensions that are not in the MacPerl source

Which seems to be the problem, for me. I've setup directories as described,
but any attempt at running Makefile.PL still results in (from all
indications) a MakeMaker.pm/Exporter.pm/MM_MacOS.pm-inspired death. For
example, this, from an ill-fated CGI.pm-2.25 install:

ExtUtils::MM_MacOS::init_main(Abulafia:MacPerl:lib:ExtUtils:MM_MacOS.pm:268):

268:            if ( -f "${dir}config.mac"
269:            && -f "${dir}perl.h"
270:            && -f "${dir}lib:Exporter.pm") {
  DB<1>
ExtUtils::MM_MacOS::init_main(Abulafia:MacPerl:lib:ExtUtils:MM_MacOS.pm:276):
276:      if ($self->{PERL_SRC}){
  DB<1>
ExtUtils::MM_MacOS::init_main(Abulafia:MacPerl:lib:ExtUtils:MM_MacOS.pm:281):
281:      die "On MacOS, we need to build under the Perl source directory";

...followed by MacsBug...


Machines involved:  Power Mac 8500/120/32, 7.5.3 w/ MacPerl 5.1.0r2b2 (8MB)
                    Quadra 610/40?/16, 7.5.3 w/ BigMacPerl 5.1.0r2b2 (6MB)
                    (same results on either platform)


So: 1) What am I doing wrong?
    2) What workaround(s) fix(es) are available?
    3) Rather than rely on MakeMaker, is it possible to just use a 'known-to-
       work-okay' Makefile.PL and do installs from that?
    4) If yes to 3), does anyone have such a beast?
       a. Can/will you share?
       b. Or, short of seriously editing a workable file from a UNIX install,
          how would one go about writing a Makefile.PL for MacOS?

TIA and apologies for any perceived longwindedness/cluelessness herein.

-tpg


_._

Tim Guinn                  | guinn@mail.utexas.edu
LAN Administrator          | http://www.utexas.edu/admin/purchasing/
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