I have had three requests for a quick-start guide to using CPAN, and no less than the estimable Bill Stearns suggested I put it up on the list. So if you don't like it here, blame him. ;-)
This is a quick guide to getting started with CPAN. Of course the ultimate reference is "man CPAN". You get started by logging in as root (or "su -"). Then run perl -MCPAN -e shell The first time you use it, it will ask you for a number of configuration questions, most of which you can take the defaults. When it asks for "install options", specify "UNINST=1". That way it will clean out any possibly conflicting modules. It will also ask if it should follow dependencies, and offer the options "always", "never", and "ask". On some of my machines, I put "ask", just to be cautious, but for most I have "always". Only once, a couple years ago, did that cause me trouble when it got into a loop while following the trail of bread crumbs, but it was easy enough to break out of it with a couple of ^Cs. Setting it to "always" makes it more fun to watch. After it asks you for your Continent and Country, it will offer you a long list of possible mirrors to use. Select three or so near you, so that if your primary is too busy, you have a fallback. Before it gives you the regular CPAN prompt, it may carp about something and suggest you "install Bundle::FooBar" or some such. You can do it right then or sometime later. A kind of "apropos" command it has is "i" and works like this. If you want to find something in the list of modules, say, XML, you can i /XML/ To install something, just install <whatever> In the case of SpamCopURI, because it will likely bust three of the redirect tests, you will have to force install Mail::SpamAssassin::SpamCopURI because it will not install anything that busts "make test". When you are done with CPAN, just Ctrl-D or "exit" or "quit". Watching CPAN work for the first time is guaranteed to leave a silly grin on your face. Feel free to contact me to explain anything unclear or solve any mysteries. Cheers, -- Bob McClure, Jr. Bobcat Open Systems, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.bobcatos.com God promised a safe landing, not smooth sailing.
