Re: Which Win32 distribution of Perl should I use: ActiveState, Strawberry, or both?

[BrowserUk]

I'm confused. Windows doesn't use shebang lines to find perl so why would you need to change them?

Unless you're also using Cygwin. In which case: don't do that!

[Lady_Aleena]

I need accurate shebang lines for my scripts to properly load in a browser. Without a shebang or a bad shebang, I get an internal server error when I go to load the script.

[BrowserUk]

Ah! In that case, I'd use Junction to create a symlink that points your current shebang line at the new location of whichever perl installation you want to use with Apache.

This has the added advantage that you can switch between installations, or to a new installation, at any time, using a single command.

[rubasov]

I have never used Apache on Windows, but if I recall right what I've read, Apache can be set up to ignore the shebang and use the registry instead to find the interpreter. That way you can omit the shebang or even better use a Unix-compatible shebang. If you do that Windows, Apache on Windows and Unices all will be happy with your scripts without any change in the shebang line. So for example you can upload your scripts to a standard Linux hosting without change (if the other parts are already portable).

Have a look at the ScriptInterpreterSource Apache configuration directive.

Probably you also need to set the corresponding registry key if it does not exist already.

I hope this helps.

[Lady_Aleena]

That hit the spot in getting my scripts loaded into my browser. Thanks!

[PeterPeiGuo]

That is just fine. It's the common practice to have that shebang for Apache.

[PeterPeiGuo]

Apache httpd uses shebang to find the perl binary.

[frd1963]

True, windows doesn't use Shebangs, but Apache is what needs to decide how to run a cgi script, and it does use Shebangs.