Building perl module gives metafile error

Question

I'm working on installing a perl module (not using CPAN) on a Linux machine. When I run the command:

 perl Build.PL

I get the following error:

ERROR: Missing required field 'dist_abstract' for metafile
Could not get valid metadata. Error is: Invalid metadata structure.
Errors: Missing mandatory field, 'abstract' (abstract) [Validation: 1.4],
value is an undefined string (abstract) [Validation: 1.4]
at /usr/local/share/perl5/Module/Build/Base.pm line 4559
Could not create MYMETA files

I've tried Googling bits and pieces of this error but haven't found any solutions. Just looking for a clue as to what might be causing this error.

Here's a link to a zip file containing the files required to install it: https://oncourse.iu.edu/access/content/user/brilewis/Filemanager_Public_Files/DataDownloader.zip

Answer 1

First at all please make sure you have package Module::Build installed. You need ungzip few gzipped files in this package. I don't realize why author gzipped them:

gzip -d *.gz

I really don't know why author archived each install file. It looks like some mistake to me.

Than you can install all dependencies (this module requires some):

./Build installdeps

And then finally install module itself:

./Build
./Build test
./Build install

However I must warn you that this module packaged in a bit strange way and there's no guarantee it works.

Answer 2

The NAME section of the module does not have a - in it, e.g.,

=head1 NAME

Foo::Bar implements a Foo framework.

will fail, but if you make it

=head1 NAME

Foo::Bar - implements a Foo framework.

then it will work.