DESCRIPTION

"Module::Install::External" provides command that allow you to declaratively specify a dependency on a program or system that is not Perl.

The commands it provides are similar to those in Module::Install::Can, except that they implement an explicit dependency, in addition to just working out if the particular thing is available.

COMMANDS

requires_xs

  requires_xs;

The "requires_xs" command explicitly specifies that a C compiler and the perl header files are required in order to build (at make-time) the distribution (specifically XS files).

It does not take any params, and aborts the Makefile.PL execution in a way that an automated installation or testing system will interpret as a "NA" (``not applicable to this platform'') result.

This may be changed to an alternative abort result at a later time.

Returns true as a convenience.

requires_external_cc

  requires_external_cc;

The "requires_external_cc" command explicitly specifies that a C compiler is required in order to build (at make-time) the distribution.

It does not take any params, and aborts the Makefile.PL execution in a way that an automated installation or testing system will interpret as a "NA" (``not applicable to this platform'') result.

This may be changed to an alternative abort result at a later time.

Returns true as a convenience.

requires_external_bin

  requires_external_bin 'cvs';

The "requires_external_bin" command takes the name of a system command or program, similar to the "can_run" command, except that "requires_external_bin" checks in a way that is a declarative explicit dependency.

The takes a single param of the command/program name, and aborts the "Makefile.PL" execution in a way that an automated installation or testing system will interpret as a "NA" (``not applicable to this platform'') result.

Returns true as a convenience.

TO DO

Work out how to save the external dependency metadata, in agreement with the larger Perl community.

Implement the agreed external dependency metadata solution.

AUTHORS

Adam Kennedy <[email protected]>

COPYRIGHT

Copyright 2006 Adam Kennedy.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.

See <http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html>