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acme on 2002-07-13T15:50:29

Ooooh, modules that try and be too clever and try and run CPAN.pm for you to install dependencies instead of using the oh-so-useful-and-that's-what-it-is-there-for PREREQ_PM annoy me too. And all the DBD modules which assume you have DBI installed and die during the Makefile generation otherwise. Bah!

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DBD's are assuming DBI is installed

htoug on 2002-07-13T22:54:31

...because that is the way the DBD-driver-writers guide recommends to do it.
The Makefile.PL step needs to know some things that the DBI can tell it. The simplest way is to use DBI; in Makefile.PL.

Unfortunately that will of course cause it to die unless DBI is installed.

The proper[tm] way is to install the DBD-Bundle, which would include DBI and other required modules, and thus remove your problem. Several DBD's have bundles, eg CSV, Informix and mysql. Some haven't: Oracle, <blush type="flaming red"> Ingres</blush> and too many others.

Breaking the mould

barbie on 2002-07-16T21:56:59

Thankfully I haven't come across this yet, but most of my installs come from CPAN to PC HD to FD to Laptop HD to install. Anything that doesn't tell me it's dependancy beforehand isn't going to make me very happy on the way to work/home on the 63 bus route.

I have to say that the YAPC::Europe 2001 CD has come in very hand on a couple of occasions though :)

At the very least though, the make should have the decent to ask whether you want to connect to CPAN or not.