How to Install Perl Programming Language on Debian 12, 11, or 10

Perl is a versatile and robust programming language essential for many applications. If you need to install Perl on Debian 12 Bookworm, Debian 11 Bullseye, or Debian 10 Buster, it’s important to understand its popularity and functionality.

Key Features of Perl:

• Efficient Text Processing: Perl is excellent at text processing due to its powerful string manipulation and handling of regular expressions. It offers many functions for pattern matching and text manipulation.
• Extensive Repository & Modules: The Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (CPAN) is a large repository filled with Perl modules, extending Perl’s core functionality.
• Cross-Platform & Community Support: Perl scripts run on various operating systems without modification, thanks to its platform independence. A vibrant, supportive community continually enriches Perl through contributions and support.
• Flexibility & Practicality: Perl’s philosophy, “There’s more than one way to do it” (TIMTOWTDI), offers flexibility in problem-solving and finds applications in web development, data processing, system administration, and bioinformatics.

With its strong text-processing features, large module library, and helpful community, Perl is very useful for programmers. This guide will show two ways to install Perl using Debian’s default repository. This is enough for most users. For those who need the latest or a custom version, we will also show how to install Perl manually.

Method 1: Install Perl Programming Language via Debian’s Repository

Verify if Perl is Already Installed

Before installing Perl, verifying whether Perl is already installed on your Debian Linux system is prudent. Open a terminal window and execute the following command:

perl -v

If Perl is installed, the version number will be displayed. Conversely, the terminal will receive an error message if it is not installed.

Refresh Debian Package Repository

To ensure that you install the latest version of Perl along with its required dependencies, it’s essential to refresh your Debian Linux system’s package repository. Execute the command below:

sudo apt update

This command contacts the repository servers and updates the local package index with the latest information about available packages and their versions.

Install Perl via APT Command

Having updated the package repository, you can now proceed with installing Perl. Execute this command:

sudo apt install perl

This command fetches the latest version of Perl and its dependencies and installs them on your system.

For an enriched Perl development experience, you might want to consider installing additional packages. Some popular ones include:

• perl-doc: Contains the official Perl documentation, which comprises reference manuals, tutorials, and an array of resources for learning and mastering Perl.
• libperl-dev: Contains development files and libraries for compiling and linking Perl modules and extensions.
• libdbd-mysql-perl: Facilitates a Perl interface to MySQL databases, streamlining interactions with MySQL through Perl scripts.
• libdatetime-perl: A set of modules for manipulating dates and times, including support for time zones and daylight saving time.
• libjson-perl: Enables encoding and decoding JSON data, commonly used in web applications.
• libxml-simple-perl: Offers a simple API for parsing and manipulating XML data in Perl.
• libtest-simple-perl: A framework for writing and running Perl unit tests, invaluable for ensuring code quality.

To install Perl with additional packages, include their names in the apt install command. For example, to install Perl with libdatetime-perl and libjson-perl, execute:

sudo apt install perl libdatetime-perl libjson-perl

Search For Additional Perl Packages

There are numerous Perl packages available in the Debian repositories. You can search for additional packages by using the apt-cache command. For instance:

apt-cache search perl

This command lists all available Perl packages. You can refine your search by using the grep command. For example, searching for packages related to MySQL:

apt-cache search perl | grep mysql

Once you identify a package you wish to install, use the apt install command. For instance, installing the libdbd-mysql-perl package:

sudo apt install libdbd-mysql-perl

This section detailed the process of installing Perl on Debian Linux and how to search for and install additional Perl packages. If the Perl version available on your Debian Linux release is not what you require, you can see section 2, which explains how to install Perl by downloading the source.

Method 2: Install Perl via sourc

Install Initial Packages on Debian For Perl

Before compiling Perl from the source, you must ensure that your Debian Linux system has the necessary development tools and libraries installed. These tools are vital for the compilation process. Execute the following command to install them:

sudo apt install build-essential wget

Download Perl Source

After installing the required dependencies, the next step is to download the source code of Perl. You can obtain the source code from the official Perl website. For this tutorial, let’s download Perl version 5.36.1 as an example. Execute the following command to download the source code:

wget https://www.cpan.org/src/5.0/perl-5.36.1.tar.gz

Note: Remember, the above command is just an example and will soon be outdated. Do not forget to visit the link and grab the latest version.

Extract Perl Source Code

With the source code downloaded, the next step is to extract the tarball. Use the following command to extract the source code:

tar -xzf perl-5.36.1.tar.gz

Now, navigate to the directory containing the extracted source code:

cd perl-5.36.1

Configure Perl Build

Before compiling the source code, it’s essential to configure the build process. This step ensures that Perl will be compiled with the options and features that are most suitable for your system. Execute the following command:

./Configure -des -Dprefix=/usr/local

Important Note: When using -Dprefix, make sure to write it exactly as shown with an uppercase ‘D’. Do not write it with a lowercase ‘d’ as -dprefix. The capitalization is important and must be correct.

Compile and then Install Perl

Now, you’re ready to compile the source code. This step might take some time, depending on your system’s performance. Execute the following command to start the compilation:

make

Once the compilation is complete, install Perl by executing the following:

sudo make install

Verifying Perl Installation on Debian

Finally, let’s verify that Perl was successfully installed from the source. Execute the following command to check the version of Perl:

perl -v

This command should display the version number of Perl, confirming that the installation was successful.

Optional: Create Perl Application for Testing Purposes

Create Perl Script

To check if Perl is working on your Debian Linux system, create a simple script. This script will print “Hello, world!” to the terminal. Start by opening a terminal and entering this command to create a new file named hello.pl and open it with the Nano text editor:

nano hello.pl

In the Nano text editor, type the following Perl code:

#!/usr/bin/perl
print "Hello, world!\n";

This simple code has a shebang line to specify the interpreter (Perl in this case). The second line uses the print statement to show “Hello, world!” followed by a newline character.

After typing the code, save the file by pressing Ctrl + O and then press Enter. To exit Nano, press Ctrl + X.

Grant Execute Permissions to the Script

For the script to be executable, you need to modify its permissions. This is achieved with the chmod command, which alters the file’s mode. The +x flag bestows execution rights. Execute the following command:

chmod +x hello.pl

Executing the Perl Test Script

With the necessary permissions set, the final step is to execute the script. This is done by invoking the script file within the terminal. Enter the following command:

./hello.pl

You should see “Hello, world!” printed on the terminal. This shows that your Perl script ran successfully.

This exercise confirms that Perl works correctly on your Debian Linux system. It also shows you how to write and run a simple Perl script. You can use this knowledge to create more complex scripts in the future.

Conclusion

This guide showed you how to install Perl on Debian Linux (versions 12 Bookworm, 11 Bullseye, and 10 Buster) using both the APT package manager and building from the source. We also added optional packages to boost Perl’s functionality. After that, we wrote a simple Perl script to make sure everything worked. For both beginners and experienced programmers, this guide highlights Perl’s ease of use and power. Remember to keep your system and Perl updated for the latest features and security improvements.