Installing CPAN modules without root

Question

I followed this helpful tutorial to get Perl installed just for my user. I am sorry to link to an external site but I think reading this is the only way to understand how to answer the question.

Anywho, I am feeding defaults to the CPAN config - the .cpan and CPAN directories created via the tutorial - yet for some reason CPAN still wants to dig into /usr/lib/ - which it just can't get to - when I try to install a module. This was while installing DBD::CSV.

Here is the error message:

All tests successful (7 subtests UNEXPECTEDLY SUCCEEDED), 3 tests skipped.
Files=23, Tests=706,  3 wallclock secs ( 2.28 cusr +  0.54 csys =  2.82 CPU)
/usr/bin/make test -- OK
Running make install
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ERROR: Can't create '/perl5lib/lib/Bundle/DBD'
mkdir /perl5lib: Permission denied at /usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/ExtUtils/Install.pm line 457
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
at -e line 1
make: *** [pure_site_install] Error 13
/usr/bin/make install  -- NOT OK

It seems to be going to the wrong perl5lib.

Answer 1

Yeah, local::lib helps. I suggest using cpanm instead of cpan. I think it defaults to installing everything ~/perl5/lib/perl5. Here's a super useful tutorial.

Answer 2

local::lib causes installers to use INSTALL_BASE, which I consider broken. I use perlbrew to install a local copy of Perl instead.

• You don't mess with your system's install of Perl, so you don't break your operating environment.
• Allows you to have multiple versions and builds of Perl installed with no hassle.
• INSTALL_BASE need not be used.
• No need for special permissions.

Answer 3

take a look at this module: local::lib