Install Perl on Ubuntu

Requirements

• A current Ubuntu version.
• sudo rights.
• An internet connection.

Method 1: The Ubuntu repository

Step 1: Update

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Perl

sudo apt install perl

Perl is often installed already on Ubuntu.

Step 3: Check it

perl -v

Method 2: Compile from source

Use this for a newer version than the one in Ubuntu.

Step 1: Download the source

wget https://www.cpan.org/src/5.0/perl-5.34.0.tar.gz

Check cpan.org for the current version.

Step 2: Extract it

tar -xvf perl-5.34.0.tar.gz

Step 3: Go into the folder

cd perl-5.34.0

Step 4: Install make

sudo apt install make

Step 5: Install the build tools

sudo apt install build-essential

Step 6: Configure

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

-des accepts the defaults. -Dprefix sets where Perl is installed.

Step 7: Build

make

Optionally run the tests with make test.

Step 8: Install

sudo make install

Check the new version:

/usr/local/perl/bin/perl -v

Add /usr/local/perl/bin to your PATH if you want to use it by default.

Quick recap

• sudo apt install perl is the easy way.
• Compile from source for the newest version.
• Check with perl -v.