Perl script is an ActiveX Scripting Engine, which is produced by the company ActiveState for the information services of Microsoft. This script allows the programmer to use the code in Perl. It can also be used in the place of VBScript or Jscript in the context of web where the servers are running the ASP protocol. Some other programs were also created for coding with Perl like Apache::ASP, but this application cannot code with JScript and VBScript. PerlScript is used for writing Windows Script Host programs, which is very similar to VBScript. Knowing how to run Perl can be helpful if you are interested in coding.
Perl is sometimes known as Practical Examination and reporting language. It is an interpreted programming language with a large number of uses, resources and libraries. This is the most discussed and used language on the internet and it is usually known as the duct tape or Swiss army knife of the web. Many of the web hosts these days like Linux have installed the Perl on the system. If it is not, then you can download it from the internet and then install it with a source code.
Here are some simple steps on how to run Perl
Things Required:
- Web server that is compatible with ISAPI
- ActiveX scripting host
- Laptop/computer with windows 98, OS 10.3, Linux libc-2.1.x+distribution
Steps:
- First, you will have to identify the distribution of Perl, which you would want to run on your system. The standard distribution company will be ActiveState, which make a number of dynamic languages for distributing, development tools and developmental environments.
- Now you will have to check if you have 90MB of free disk space for installing it and this is the standard requirement of the system as well. A Windows machine running Win 98 or higher, will have an ISAPI that is compatible with the web server and the scripting host ActiveX. People using Linux must make sure that they have libc-2.1.x+, while people using Macintosh should have OS 10.3 or OS.
- You will have to visit the ActiveState website by clicking on the option ‘language distribution’, which is available at the top of the page. Now you will have to select the ‘activeperl’ option from the heading, ‘choose your distribution’.
- Now, select the ‘free activeperl distribution’ inside the section ‘standard distribution’. There will be other options as well like, ‘activeperl enterprise’, which will come along with support and some more options. There will be ‘activeperl OEM licensing’ option if you are planning to resell activeperl distribution yourself.
- You will have to download the activeperl by selecting the download button, or you can order the DVD if your system has a slow connection or if you want a copy for future reference.
- If you wish, you can start filling out the contact details. These details are optional, but activeperl will inform you on all the updates and the other products once you give them your information. If you don’t wish to give them information, then hit on ‘continue’ without filling the fields.
- Now, you will have to find the platform on the list. Activestate will make activeperl for many platforms. If you are using windows, your platform will be the windows x86. If your system has 64-bit windows, your platform will be the windows 64-bit.
- Next, you will have to download the MSI file, and not the packaging file. The MSI is like an installer, which will install the activeperl and will set up the file for association and the command-line environment as well.
- Go to your desktop and double click on the file once the download is completed. Now, you will have to follow the installer by keeping the default options unless you need something. This installer will take some time for installing perl and will generate the HTML documentation.
- Now you can run the perl script. You can do this easily from the windows file explorer or you can find it from the command line as well. From the file explorer, you will have to double click on any one of the .pl file for running it. Now you can run any file that is associated with the program or you can run the perl files from the command-line by writing its filename in the directory.
Tips and Warnings:
- The ISAPI compatible web servers are PWS 4.0+ or IIS 4.0+ and the recommended host for the activeX scripting host is IE 4.0= or windows scripting host.
- Recently, due to a bug in distribution, if you get a red hat Linux 8.0 distribution, then you must not install the activeperl Rp.m. It will interrupt the database of Rp.m., so you will have to use .tar.gz distribution for activeperl.
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