Is there a Perl port to machine FOO?
Probably. Perl already runs on virtually all UNIX machines as well as
quite a few non-UNIX ones. Chances are that if you're running a UNIX
box, you simply need to run Configure and everything will be taken
care of for you. For most UNIX machines, no porting is required.
Perl comes with an elaborate auto-configuration script that allows Perl
to be painlessly ported to a wide variety of platforms, including many
non-UNIX ones. Amiga and MS-DOS binaries are available on
jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov [128.149.1.143] for anonymous FTP. Try to bring
Perl up on your machine, and if you have problems, examine the README
file carefully, and if all else fails, post to comp.lang.perl with
a cross-posting to comp.sys.whatever; probably someone out there has
run into your problem and will be able to help you.
In the perl archive on coombs.anu.edu.au, you can consult the file
/pub/perl/misc/perl.code.sources for information not contained below.
It may also be more up-to-date as well.
In particular, since they're so often asked about, here's some information
for the MacIntosh from Matthias Ulrich Neeracher <neeri@iis.ethz.ch>:
The most recent version of Perl for the Apple Macintosh using the
MPW C compiler is available in:
nic.switch.ch [130.59.1.40] software/mac/src/mpw_c
ftp.eunet.ch [146.228.10.15] software/mac/perl
The current version is 4.0.7 (despite the "7", it corresponds to
patchlevel 36 in the Unix version) and is available in the above
directories as
Mac_Perl_407_src.sit.bin Sources
Mac_Perl_407_tool.sit.bin MPW Tool
Mac_Perl_407_appl.sit.bin Standalone Application (See below)
There is a mailing list for discussing Macintosh Perl which can be
reached at mpw-perl-request@iis.ee.ethz.ch
Here's more, from Timothy Murphy <tim@maths.tcd.ie >
I ported perl to the Mac, using Think C, a while ago. I've
used it quite a lot since without problems.
It is available from ftp.maths.tcd.ie in pub/Mac/perl.hqx .
The source (as diffs from the standard source) is in the
subdirectory pub/Mac/perl-4.035 .
A Mac version of patch is also available in pub/Mac/patch.hqx
with source in pub/Mac/patch-2.0 . Various other Mac ports of
GNU programs can be found in the same place.
They all use a small "ThinkCPosix" library containing various
Unix-like functions, which again can be found in the same
place.
And here's some VMS information from Rao V. Akella
<rao@moose.cccs.umn.edu>: (this appears to be an old port)
You can pick up Perl for VMS (version 3.0.1.1 patchlevel 4) via
anonymous ftp from ftp.pitt.edu [130.49.253.1] in the
software/vms/perl subdirectory (there are two files there:
perl-pl18.bck and perl-pl4.bck).
There is also a v3.018 on info.rz.uni-ulm.de [134.60.1.125] or
vms.huji.ac.il [128.139.4.3] in /pub/VMS/misc (information courtesy
of Anders Rolff <rolff@scotty.eurokom.ie>).
And here is a recent version for MS-DOS from Budi Rahardjo
<rahard@ee.UManitoba.CA>, who says:
I am collecting MS-DOS Perl(s) in ftp.ee.umanitoba.ca directory
/pub/msdos/perl. Currently I received three versions of Perl v4.019
and one of 4.010. (Tommy Thorn <tthorn@daimi.aau.dk> and Len Reed
<holos0!lbr@gatech.edu>)
There is now a 4.035 for 386 [DOS], Hitoshi Doi <doi@jrd.december.com>
port, is available ftp.ee.umanitoba.ca as /pub/msdos/perl/perl386.zoo .
Please contact the porters directly in case of questions about
these ports.
A new version of "bigperl4" has been uploaded to Simtel20 and mirror
sites:
pd1:<msdos.perl>
BPERL2X.ZIP 32-bit Perl 4.0pl36 w/VM & Win 3.1 supt. (exe)
BPERL2S1.ZIP 32-bit Perl 4.0pl36 w/VM & Win supt. (src 1/2)
BPERL2S2.ZIP 32-bit Perl 4.0pl36 w/VM & Win supt. (src 2/2)
For those of you who don't know what "bigperl4" is, here's the
short description:
BIGPERL4 is Perl 4.0pl36 that has been compiled using the Watcom C/386
compiler (a 32-bit, flat-memory model C compiler), which gives this
version the following features:
* Up to 32MB of memory can be used.
* Supports virtual memory.
* Works under Windows 3.1 (however, a second copy of perl cannot
be spawned under Windows).
* The perl debugger can be used.
* Contains GDBM support.
A 386/486 with at least 4MB RAM is required, and a third-party memory
manager such as QEMM is strongly recommended.
BIGPERL4 also passes those perl tests that do not depend on Unix-isms.
Full sources are included (including GDBM 1.5). Freeware and copylefted
(in the case of GDBM 1.5).
For a version that works on NT, FTP to rhino.microsoft.com
(131.107.1.121) the port of Perl there purportedly works well and
includes support for sockets from perl. The source builds out of the
box and contains some NT specific tests.