How can I compile my Perl script so it can be executed on systems without 'perl' installed?

Solution 1:

pp can create an executable that includes perl and your script (and any module dependencies), but it will be specific to your architecture, so you couldn't run it on both Windows and linux for instance.

From its doc:

To make a stand-alone executable, suitable for running on a machine that doesn't have perl installed:

   % pp -o packed.exe source.pl        # makes packed.exe
   # Now, deploy 'packed.exe' to target machine...
   $ packed.exe                        # run it

(% and $ there are command prompts on different machines).

Solution 2:

1. Install PAR::Packer. Example for *nix:

   sudo cpan -i PAR::Packer

   For Strawberry Perl for Windows or for ActivePerl and MSVC installed:

   cpan -i PAR::Packer

2. Pack it with pp. It will create an executable named "example" or "example.exe" on Windows.

   pp -o example example.pl

This would work only on the OS where it was built.

P.S. It is really hard to find a Unix clone without Perl. Did you mean Windows?

Solution 3:

From perlfaq3's answer to How can I compile my Perl program into byte code or C?:

(contributed by brian d foy)

In general, you can't do this. There are some things that may work for your situation though. People usually ask this question because they want to distribute their works without giving away the source code, and most solutions trade disk space for convenience. You probably won't see much of a speed increase either, since most solutions simply bundle a Perl interpreter in the final product (but see How can I make my Perl program run faster?).

The Perl Archive Toolkit ( http://par.perl.org/ ) is Perl's analog to Java's JAR. It's freely available and on CPAN ( http://search.cpan.org/dist/PAR/ ).

There are also some commercial products that may work for you, although you have to buy a license for them.

The Perl Dev Kit ( http://www.activestate.com/Products/Perl_Dev_Kit/ ) from ActiveState can "Turn your Perl programs into ready-to-run executables for HP-UX, Linux, Solaris and Windows."

Perl2Exe ( http://www.indigostar.com/perl2exe.htm ) is a command line program for converting perl scripts to executable files. It targets both Windows and unix platforms.

Solution 4:

Look at PAR (Perl Archiving Toolkit).

PAR is a Cross-Platform Packaging and Deployment tool, dubbed as a cross between Java's JAR and Perl2EXE/PerlApp.