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Perl-Dist-Vanilla-9
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/ Perl::Dist::Vanilla

NAME

Perl::Dist::Vanilla - Vanilla Perl for win32

DESCRIPTION

Vanilla Perl is an experimental Perl distribution for the Microsoft Windows platform that includes a bundled compiler. Vanilla Perl provides a Win32 installation of Perl that is as close as possible to the core Perl distrubution, while offering the ability to install XS CPAN modules directly from CPAN. Vanilla Perl aims to include only the smallest possible changes from the Perl core necessary to achieve this goal.

Vanilla Perl includes:

  • Perl 5.10.0

  • Mingw GCC C/C++ compiler

  • Dmake "make" tool

Vanilla Perl is intended for use by automated testing systems and master-level Perl developers. The primary anticipated uses for Vanilla Perl include examining Win32-related issues in the Perl core, and for working on fixing complex dependency and Win32 platform bugs in CPAN modules.

Vanilla Perl will eventually serve as the basis for additional Win32 Perl distributions that include incremental bundled capabilities for general application development or application deployment needs.

Vanilla Perl is strongly not recommended for general use on Win32 platforms at this time for any purpose other than detecting and fixing bugs in Vanilla Perl and testing Win32 compatibility of various CPAN modules.

Vanilla Perl will undergo changes without notice over time in an attempt to intentionally provoke errors and uncover problems close to the Perl core, so users should expect that it may unexpectedly display strange behaviours and various other problems.

The Perl::Dist::Vanilla distribution on CPAN contains scripts and instructions for downloading component sources and assembling them into the executable installer for Vanilla Perl. It does not include the resulting Vanilla Perl installation itself.

See "DOWNLOADING THE INSTALLER" for instructions on where to download and how to install Vanilla Perl.

See Perl::Dist::Build at http://search.cpan.org for details on the builder used to create Vanilla Perl from source.

CHANGES FROM CORE PERL

Vanilla Perl is and will continue to be based on the latest "stable" release of Perl, currently version 5.10.0.

For the 5.10.0 series, no additional modules are installed.

A stub CPAN Config.pm file is installed. It provides defaults to the path for dmake, to automatically follow dependencies and to use the Windows temporary directory for the CPAN working directory.

DOWNLOADING THE INSTALLER

Vanilla Perl Builds from 4 on are available from http://vanillaperl.com/.

Earlier builds of Vanilla Perl are available on Sourceforge.net as part of the Camelpack project: http://camelpack.sourceforge.net/

CONFIGURATION

At present, the installation criteria for Vanilla Perl are quite strict.

We hope to address some of these issues during the 5.10.1 timeline to make things a bit more flexible.

Sorry :(

Vanilla cannot co-exist with any other Perl installations at this time.

You should remove any other Perl installations before installing Vanilla Perl.

Vanilla Perl must be installed in C:\vanilla.

Vanilla Perl 5.10.0 Build 9 comes in .zip format. Availability of an .exe installer has regressed while .exe creation undergoes a rewrite.

Once installed, you should add to the following environment variables.

    * add directories to PATH
        - C:\vanilla\c\bin
        - C:\vanilla\perl\bin 

    * add directories to LIB
        - C:\vanilla\c\lib
        - C:\vanilla\perl\bin

    * add directories to INCLUDE 
        - C:\vanilla\c\include 
        - C:\vanilla\perl\lib\CORE

LIB and INCLUDE changes are likely more than are necessary, but attempt to head off potential problems compiling external programs for use with Perl and various CPAN modules.

The first time that the "cpan" program is run, users will be prompted for configuration settings. You can go with the defaults if you wish, although since Vanilla is for experts only, you should probably configure manually.

Manual CPAN configuration may be repeated by running the following command:

    perl -MCPAN::FirstTime -e "CPAN::FirstTime::init"

CONTACTS AND BUGS REPORTING

Currently, Vanilla Perl discussion is centered at win32.perl.org. New venues for discussion may be listed there.

Please report bugs or feature requests using the CPAN Request Tracker. Bugs can be sent by email to bug-Perl-Dist-Vanilla@rt.cpan.org or submitted using the web interface at http://rt.cpan.org/Public/Dist/Display.html?Name=Perl-Dist-Vanilla

LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT

Vanilla Perl is open source and may be licensed under the same terms as Perl. Open source software included with Vanilla Perl installations are governed by their respective licenses. See LICENSE.txt for details.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

BECAUSE THIS SOFTWARE IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE SOFTWARE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE SOFTWARE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.

IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE THE SOFTWARE AS PERMITTED BY THE ABOVE LICENCE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE SOFTWARE TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER SOFTWARE), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.