IndigoPerl Main Page

About IndigoPerl

IndigoPerl is a binary build of Perl, Apache and PHP for Windows.

IndigoPerl includes an integrated Apache web server.  It can be used for developing and running Perl scripts and web applications.  A browser based GUI Package Manager for installing Perl modules is included.  IndigoPerl is free.

Features:

Installer (Windows executable)

• Single file download.
• Easy installation - just download and run setup.

Installer (zip file)

• Easy installation - just unzip and run setup.
• You can easily customize or repackage the zip version for redistribution with additional modules. 
• Does not install files in windows directories.
• Does not keep data in registry, except for Apache service information
• Uses text files to keep configuration information

Apache: 

• Apache is pre-configured for running Perl and PHP CGI scripts. 
• Mod_perl is also installed.
• Mod_ssl is installed

Perl:

• Perl comes pre-packaged with some of the most popular Perl modules, including:
  Archive-Tar, Compress-Zlib, DBD-mysqlPP, DBI, HTML-Parser, libwin32, libwww, mod_perl, TimeDate, URI, Win32-API.
• Includes PerlConsole, which provides a web browser based GUI access to the
  Perl help files, the GUI Package Manager and a documentation search engine

Package Manager:

• Includes a browser based GUI Package Manager
• This allows you to install and remove modules using a point-and-click interface
• Also includes IPM, a console version of the package manager
• Can install pre-built binary packages from repositories
• Can also install CPAN source modules.

Installation

Windows Installer:

1. Download and run the Windows installer.
2. In will prompt you for the installation directory, which by default is "C:\Program Files\indigoperl"

To uninstall click on STart, AllPrograms, unistall uninstall.bat, or use the Control Panel.

Zip file Installer:

1. Extract the zip file to the desktop or to c:\ or to "C:\Program Files".  This will create a subfolder named "indigoperl"
If you extract to the final intended location then it will save a copy step later.
Note for Vista users: Because of permission restrictions it is best to extract to the desktop.

2. Run setup.bat from an explorer or dos window.
Note for Vista users: You must run setup.bat from an Adminstrator DOS Command Prompt Window, to do this click on Start,All Programs, then right click on Command Prompt, then click 'Run as Adminstrator'.

To uninstall run uninstall.bat, then remove the installation directory.

System requirements:
Any Windows 32-bit or 64-bit system, including Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista

Using the Apache Web Server

IndigoPerl comes with a pre-configured Apache web server. 

Place your html documents in the apache\htdocs directory and your scripts in the apache\cgi-bin directory.  Use the html and cgi samples as a starting point for your website. Your perlscripts should start with a line that looks something like this: "#!perl"

Using mod_perl

Any files with a .pl extension and placed in the apache\perl-bin directory will be served using mod_perl

Using SSL

Using SSL allows the Apache server to service secure requests that start with "https://".  Apache is already preconfigured to server SSL requests.  You will need to replace the dummy files apache\conf\server.crt and apache\conf\server.key with real ones otherwise the browser will display a warning messages about the server certificate not being valid.  For testing you can ignore the error.

Stopping and starting Apache - Windows NT, 2000, XP and Vista

Apache is configured to start automatically as a service whenever the PC is rebooted.  If you don't want it to start automatically open the Service Manager and change the setting for Apache service to start manually.

To manually start, stop or restart Apache, click on one of the shortcuts in the Start/Programs/IndigoPerl folder

Stopping and starting Apache - Windows 95, 98, ME

Apache will start automatically whenever you log into your PC.  If you don't want it to start automatically delete the 'Start Apache' shortcut in the  Start/Programs/StartUp folder.

To manually start Apache, click on "Start Apache" icon in the the Start/Programs/IndigoPerl folder.  To stop Apache click on the minimized Apache window and type Ctrl+C.

While Apache is running a minimized DOS window will remain open.  The window title is initially 'start_apache', it will change to 'perl' or 'php' if a CGI script is started.

The PerlConsole

The PerlConsole application provides a web browser based GUI interface to the Perl help files, the GUI Package Manager and a documentation search engine.

To start the PerlConsole, make sure that Apache is running then click on Start, then IndigoPerl, then PerlConsole.

GUI Package Manager (GPM)

The GUI Package Manager (GPM) provides a web browser based GUI interface for installing Perl modules.

GPM can install pre-built binary packages from repositories.

GPM can also install CPAN source modules if you have Microsoft DevStudio installed.  The module will be automatically downloaded, built, and installed.

To start the GPM start the PerlConsole, then Package Manager link from the main table of contents (top left corner of the window).

Indigo Package Manager (IPM)

The Indigo Package Manager (IPM) provides a command line interface for managing your Perl modules. 

IPM allows you to install and remove packages from your perl installation.  IPM can install pre-built binary packages from repositories.

If you access the internet through a firewall or proxy you will need to set the following environment variables:

Set HTTP_proxy to your proxy server name and port in the format: "http://proxy:8080" .

If you require a user name and/or password to access your proxy, set HTTP_proxy_user and HTTP_proxy_pass to your user name and password.

To run IPM and to see a help summary run the following command from a DOS window: 'ipm help'.

Example:
ipm search Digest    # search for all packages that contain 'Digest' in the package name
ipm install Digest-MD4    # install Digest::MD4
ipm remove Digest-MD4    # uninstall Digest::MD4

License

The intent of this document is to state the conditions under which IndigoPerl may be copied and distributed.

1. You may use IndigoPerl for commercial or non-commercial purposes without charge.

2. You may apply bug fixes, portability fixes and install additional Perl modules. A package modified in such a way shall still be covered by the terms of this license.

3. You may make and give away verbatim copies of IndigoPerl for personal use, or for use within your organization and to others outside your organization, provided that you duplicate all of the original copyright notices and associated disclaimers.

4. You may not distribute copies of IndigoPerl or components derived from IndigoPerl to others outside your organization where IndigoPerl is bundled with a commercial product without specific prior written permission from IndigoSTAR Software except as noted below.

5. You may distribute copies of IndigoPerl or components derived from IndigoPerl to others outside your organization where IndigoPerl is bundled with a commercial product as long as total sales of the bundled product do not exceed $1000 US per year.

6. IndigoSTAR's name and trademarks may not be used to endorse or promote packages derived from IndigoPerl without specific prior written permission from IndigoSTAR Software.

7. INDIGOPERL IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Release History

V8.020 Feb 11 2008
Rebuilt with Perl 5.8.10

V2005 Mar 1 2005
Rebuilt with Perl 5.8.6

V2004 Mar 1 2004
Rebuilt with Perl 5.8.3, Apache 2.0.48, and PHP 4.3.4.

V2003 Feb 6 2003
Rebuilt with Perl 5.8 Apache 2.0 and PHP 4.2.3

V5.6 Build 09 Aug 24 2002
Build with Perl 5.6.1 Apache 1.3.26

V5.6 Build 01 May 1 2000
Initial release