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Downloading the Latest Version of Perl
by Tom Christiansen
Contents of this document
* Source Code Distribution
o Stable Production Release (Current Version)
o Experimental Developer's Release (Upcoming Version)
o Previous Releases (Legacy Version)
+ Source License
* Binary Distributions
o Unix, Linux
o Win32
o Macintosh Classic
* Getting Help
Overview
Perl is Open Source software. You can download it for free as a source code or as a pre-compiled binary distribution.
Perl Source Code Distribution
Use the instructions below to download the complete Perl source code distribution via your Web browser. On CPAN, you will find Perl source in the /src directory. The source code is distributed as either a Unix-style tar archive compressed by GNU zip (gz) or as a PC-style ZIP archive. (The only difference is the type of archive; the same source code files are inside the archive.
Once you download the gzip or zip archive, extract the source code files from the distribution and then follow the instructions on how to compile the source code for your system. If you don't have a compiler, or are unclear about compiling source code, then look first for a binary distribution of Perl.
Please note that we merely distribute Perl here. We neither develop it nor support it. Please consult the appropriate README and INSTALLING files if you have trouble configuring, compiling, and installing Perl.
Stable Production Release
The current version of Perl is 5.8.8. This is a stable, tested release that you should use in production environments.
DOWNLOAD Stable Release from CPAN/src
Get source for Unix and Windows systems stable.tar.gz archive
This version is a stable, production release that compiles out of the box for virtually all flavors of Unix (its native environment), plus VMS, OS/2, and 32-bit Microsoft platforms as well.
Experimental Developer's Release
The developer's release of Perl is currently at version 5.9.3. The developer's release is purely experimental. It is intended for particularly brave developers who want to get close to the front lines of Perl development. (If you want the current development sources, see the "Keeping in sync" section of the file pod/perlhack.pod. Please note that this is bleeding-edge code and requires you to know what you are doing.)
DOWNLOAD Developer's Release from CPAN/src
Get source for Unix and Windows systems devel.tar.gz archive
Previous Versions of Perl
For the faint of heart, the previous version of Perl is the 5.6.2 release. Timid souls who are afraid to upgrade to the current release might want this.
DOWNLOAD Last Release from CPAN/src
Get source for Unix systems perl5.6.2.tar.gz archive
Source Licence
Perl is Open Source software. It's free for you to download and use as you wish. Perl's license is the Artistic license. Read it if you aren't sure what you can or can't do. The bottom line is that this is a kinder and gentler version of the GNU license -- one that doesn't infect your work if you care to borrow from Perl or package up pieces of it as part of a commercial product!
Binary Distributions
Binary distributions of Perl are available for various platforms, including Win32 (Windows NT/95/2000/XP), Mac, and Unix. Please read all documentation that comes with each package, as one distribution for a given platform may be very different than another for the same platform (for example, it may include different add-ons, be compiled from a different version of Perl etc.)
Generally speaking, CPAN doesn't distribute Perl binaries. It does provide information in the /ports directory that will point you to sites that maintain binary distributions for specific platforms.
Perl for Win32
ActivePerl is the long-awaited "merge" of the two popular Perl Win32 ports. These binaries are intended for anyone using a modern version of Windows. While you can download older Win32 binaries from CPAN, we recommend that you download ActivePerl from ActiveState.
ActivePerl includes:
Perl for Win32: A binary of the core Perl distribution.
PerlScript: ActiveX scripting engine, like JavaScript or VBScript with a Perl brain.
Perl Package Manager: Use the Perl Package Manager (PPM) to view and install the large collection of modules and extensions that are available in binary packages at the ActiveState Package Repository.
DOWNLOAD Win32 Binaries from ActiveState
Go to the ActivePerl page at Activestate.com: ActivePerl
If you have problems installing ActivePerl, please see the ActiveState site for support information.
PXPerl is another distribution of Perl for Windows users. It includes many CPAN modules, the Pugs Perl 6 implementation, and Parrot, the virtual machine intended to run Perl 6. Even better, all of these packages work together nicely so you can run Perl 6 code with Perl 5 code and Parrot code all together. It is also possible to install CPAN modules (if you have one of the supported compilers.)
DOWNLOAD PXPerl Win32 Binaries
Go to the PXPerl page: PXPerl
Perl for the Macintosh
Mac OS X distributes a modern version of Perl, so you already have it. (If you want to upgrade, you can build the Unix source if you have the developer tools installed.)
For Macintosh Classic users, there are two ways to get Perl. MacPerl is the classic Perl port to Mac OS Systems 7 through 9. Lamp is a project to create a Unix-like environment on Mac OS before Mac OS X. It includes a port of Perl 5.6.1 and has frequent updates.
DOWNLOAD Macintosh Binaries from MacPerl
Go to the MacPerl page: MacPerl
Download Lamp (Lamp Ain't Mac POSIX): Lamp
Perl for Unix
Perl was originally envisioned and written for Unix. Perl will build on almost all Unix platforms and its variants, such as Linux. As far as which Unix variants Perl will compile on, Larry says "I'm not sure there are any unsupported versions of Unix, except on machines without adequate address space such as PDP-11 or i286, and perhaps some old versions of Unix that are no longer supported themselves."
DOWNLOAD Unix Binaries from CPAN
Go to the CPAN /ports list to locate a binary: List of Ports
Alien Ports
If you want to run Perl on a non-native system, then have a look at the /CPAN/ports/ directory. Note that the standard Perl distribution compiles even on most closed-source systems now, so the ports directory is of somewhat limited utility for them.
Getting Help
If you need help, here are some suggestions.
* If you encounter problems configuring, compiling, or installing Perl from the source kits, please read the README in the source directory. Besides including important tips for various platforms, they also document where to send mail if you still have build difficulties.
* If you have problems downloading via ftp, try our CPAN web mirror instead.
* If you still can't get the download or the unpacking to work, contact your local systems administrator (not Perl.com staff) for help with your local system. Also, try to contact other Perl users in your organization or your community for help.
* If you have issues with the ActiveState port, please contact them directly.
What Now?
After you have Perl configured and installed, what can you do with it? Perl.com has several articles for novices, including:
* Beginner's Introduction to Perl (first of a series of six)
* FMTYEWTK About Mass Edits In Perl
* Perl Command-Line Options
* Perl's Special Variables
* Regexp Power
* Power Regexps, Part II
* Maintaining Regular Expressions
* Perl Slurp-Eaze
* Hidden Treasures of the Perl Core
* Hidden Treasures of the Perl Core, part II
* The Many Dates and Times of Perl
* Database Programming with Perl
* Making Sense of Subroutines
* Perl Debugger Quick Reference
* Ten Essential Development Practices
* How to Avoid Writing Code
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