Question

I'm looking for Twiki Install (All-in-one) on Windows with native Apache and Perl (no cygwin). I've tried Indigo Perl which is appealing because of its use of mod_perl. I managed to install but wound up frustrated. Would love to use the new Windows installer, but I am really turned off by ActivePerl. Can I use the Installer and then replace ActivePerl by mod_perl?

Environment

-- KimWoodle - 08 May 2008

Answer

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I moved the Windows installer's perl directory after installation. I haven't tried it, but I don't see why the same procedure wouldn't work for a different Perl install (assuming you give it all the same CPAN modules). In Step 3 of that doc, you would probably only need paragraphs 2 and 7 through 11.

I also have a question about your question: I'm using ActivePerl and it seems OK to me. It's much faster than cygwin's perl for example. I haven't tried mod_perl, what's its appeal? [I'm curious to see if I should consider switching as you are].

-- SeanCMorgan - 08 May 2008

Kim - you should probably look at StrawberryPerl - it is the fully native win32 perl - and as part of the WindowsInstaller work I did, I made a test rc using it - look in http://distributedinformation.com/TWikiInstallers/ (you should be able to update the perl quite happily)

I don't know anything about the mod_perl support on Windows apache - if you find out more, please tell us.

-- SvenDowideit - 09 May 2008

SeanCMorgan: I'm running ActiveState Perl with Mod_perl over it. Namingly, the appeal is speed, particularly with larger numbers of users.

Kim: Sounds like you misunderstand mod_perl. It is a perl module that is loaded to keep an always active perl shell which then handles requests. It is not a replacement for Perl, but basically saves on the instantiation cost of making copies of perl for each request.

-- PhilipBloom - 27 Jun 2008

Thanks Philip, that explains a lot.

-- SeanCMorgan - 11 Jul 2008

Look also into VMware based virtual appliances. This approach makes it very easy to deploy TWiki on Windows. A somewhat outdated TWiki version is at TWikiVMDebianStable, and an up-to-date version is available as a commericially supported product.

-- PeterThoeny - 02 Sep 2008