Re^4: Stupid question (/usr/bin/perl)

[flexvault]

tye,

I guess I didn't explain myself properly.

Several of the newer versions of *nix distributions seem to be shipping a vendor updated "safer" Perl in /usr/bin. If you replace this "safer" Perl with a "compiled by you" Perl without the vendor's "patches", many of the system utilities that require the "safer" Perl just don't work.

So my new rules would be:

• Never use or touch the /usr/bin/perl
• Always use a known version of Perl ( best to compile yourself ).
• Preferred location is /usr/local/bin/perl ( I usually link to the known Perl. )

This is not what I would like, but it is necessary. In the past 2 years, I've had to re-install 3 different new distros that after installing a newer Perl as /usr/bin/perl many utilities just don't work. I used to routinely install a new Perl as /usr/bin/perl. I don't do that anymore!
Note: Sorry to admit I did this 3 times, but old habits are hard to break.

How many times on PM do you see comments of "...doesn't work...", followed by "...works on my system...". I'm pointing to the difference may be in using the vendor supplied Perl.

This is not a Perl problem!

I have said many times that Perl is getting better and better. I have never changed Perl code, nor do I see any need to. When I compile Perl myself, it works as documented.

Thank you