---
name: "perlbeos"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-doc"
version: "5.14.2-21+deb7u3"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/perlbeos"
---

# perlbeos(1)

Perl version 5.8+ on BeOS

## NAME

README.beos - Perl version 5.8+ on BeOS

## DESCRIPTION

This file contains instructions how to build Perl under BeOS and lists known problems.

## BUILD AND INSTALL

### Requirements

I have built and tested Perl 5.8.6 and 5.9.1 under BeOS R5 x86 net server. I can't say anything with regard to PPC. Since Perl 5.8.0 had been released for BeOS BONE, I suspect, there is a good chance, that it still compiles on a BONE system. The only change I've made, that affects BONE systems is the recognition of whether it is a BONE system or not in `"hints/beos.sh"`. Now network socket support should remain enabled on BONE systems. This might as well break the build, though.

As more recent versions of autoconf require *flock()* support, I wrote a *flock()* emulation (flock\_server) and released it on BeBits:

```
        http://www.bebits.com/app/4030
```

If you want to build a Perl with *flock()* support, you have to install this package first.

### Configure

With *flock()* support:

```
        CFLAGS=-I/path/to/flock/server/headers ./configure.gnu \
                --prefix=/boot/home/config
```

Replace `"/path/to/flock/server/headers"` with the path to the directory containing the `"flock.h"` header.

Without *flock()* support:

```
        ./configure.gnu --prefix=/boot/home/config
```

### Build

With *flock()* support:

```
        make LDLOADLIBS="-lnet -lflock"
```

Without *flock()* support:

```
        make LDLOADLIBS="-lnet"
```

`"-lnet"` is needed on net server systems only and if the compiler doesn't add it automatically (Be's R5 gcc does, Oliver Tappe's gcc 2.95.3 does not).

### Install

Install all perl files:

```
        make install
```

Create a symlink for libperl:

```
        cd ~/config/lib; ln -s perl5/5.8.6/BePC-beos/CORE/libperl.so .
```

Replace `5.8.6` with your respective version of Perl.

## KNOWN PROBLEMS

- •

  Network socket support is disabled for BeOS R5 net server. I didn't dare yet to try enabling it and see what problems occur.

- •

  The LFS (large file support) tests (`"t/op/lfs"` and `"xt/Fcntl/t/syslfs"`) are disabled as seeking beyond 2 GB is broken according to jhi@iki.fi who was the last one checking the BeOS port and updating this file before me. Haven't checked this myself.

- •

  The `"t/io/fflush"` test fails at #6. As far as I can tell, this is caused by a bug in the BeOS pipes implementation that occurs when starting other child processes. In the particular test case a `"system("perl -e 0")"` flushes the stdout pipe of another child process.

- •

  The `"ext/POSIX/t/waitpid"` test fails at #1. After all child processes are gone BeOS' waitpid(-1,...) returns 0 instead of -1 (as it should). No idea how to fix this.

## CONTACT

For BeOS specifics problems feel free to mail to: Ingo Weinhold \<bonefish@cs.tu-berlin.de\>

Last update: 2004-12-16