Building Perl for Win32

Bill Hess - bhess@techrg.com

Software Versions used in this Example

• Perl Version = 5.003_03
• OS Version = Windows NT Workstation 4.0
• Compiler = Visual C++ 5.0 or 6.0
• Shell = cmd.exe

Space Requirements

• Source Code for Building ~ 26.4 MB
• Installed after Build ~ 11.2 MB
• Total Space Required for Build and Install ~ 40 MB

Download the latest stable source of Perl from CPAN - www.perl.com

• stable.tar.gz - GNU ZIP
• stable.zip - PK ZIP

Put the source into a temporary directory, for example:

• C:\temp\perl5.003_03

Reference the README.win32 file for detailed information on compiling

The VCVARS32.BAT will need to be run to set up your build environment

• This can be found under the Visual C++ install location

Change to the win32 directory under the Perl source, for example:

• C:\temp\perl5.003_03\win32

Edit 'C:\temp\perl5.003_03\win32\Makefile' and set the install drive and directory by editing the following two lines:

• INST_DRV *= c:
• INST_TOP *= $(INST_DRV)\perl

Compile the Perl source using the supplied makefile.

• Type 'nmake' while in the 'C:\temp\perl5.003_03\win32' directory

Test the build by typing 'nmake test' while in the 'C:\temp\perl5.003_03\win32' directory

• Watch the tests run by and all should get an 'ok' except skipped tests
• When finished you should get an 'All tests successful' message

Install Perl by typing 'nmake install' while in the 'C:\temp\perl5.003_03\win32' directory

• This will copy all of the necessary files to the install directory determined above by the INST_DRV and INST_TOP variables in the Makefile
• This will also generate all of the online Perl documentation

Add the following Perl directories to the PATH environment variable:

• C:\perl\5.00503\bin
• C:\perl\5.00503\bin\MSWin32-x86

Bring up a new shell and you are ready to go...