How To Install Perl on Debian 12

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Perl on Debian 12. Perl, a versatile and powerful scripting language, plays a pivotal role in the Linux ecosystem. Its extensive library of modules and wide range of applications make it an essential tool for system administrators, developers, and anyone looking to harness the capabilities of a flexible programming language.

This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of the Perl on a Debian 12 (Bookworm).

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Debian 12 (Bookworm).
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
• An active internet connection. You’ll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages and dependencies for Perl.
• A non-root sudo user or access to the root user. We recommend acting as a non-root sudo user, however, as you can harm your system if you’re not careful when acting as the root.

Install Perl on Debian 12 Bookworm

Step 1. Before we install any software, it’s important to make sure your system is up to date by running the following apt commands in the terminal:

sudo apt update

This command will refresh the repository, allowing you to install the latest versions of software packages.

Step 2. Installing Perl on Debian 12.

With your system updated, you are now ready to install Perl. Debian’s package manager, APT, simplifies this process. In your terminal, run the following command to search for Perl packages:

apt search perl

This command will display a list of available Perl packages. Choose the one that suits your needs. Most often, you’ll want the basic Perl package. To install, use:

sudo apt install perl

To check the Perl version, run the following command:

perl -v

You should see detailed information about the Perl version you installed. This confirms that Perl is successfully installed on your system.

Step 3. Additional Perl Modules (Optional)

Perl’s strength lies in its vast library of modules. You can install additional modules to extend Perl’s functionality for your specific needs.

• Using CPAN (Comprehensive Perl Archive Network)

CPAN simplifies the process of searching, installing, and managing Perl modules. Install CPAN if it’s not already installed:

sudo apt install cpanminus

To search for a specific Perl module, use the cpan command:

cpan -D Module::Name

Replace Module::Name with the name of the module you want to search for.

To install a module, use the cpan command again:

cpan Module::Name

Step 4. Testing Perl.

Before you start using Perl for your projects, it’s a good practice to test its functionality with a simple script. Create a file named hello.pl using a text editor of your choice and add the following code:

#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;

print "Hello, World!\n";

Save the file and make it executable:

chmod +x hello.pl

Run the script:

./hello.pl

You should see “Hello, World!” printed on your terminal.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Perl. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the latest version of Perl on Debian 12 Bookworm. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Perl website.