Hi sibyl.
I'm trying to solve a related problem and can contribute the following:
(1) libxml2
-- You are right, libxml2 is one of the prerequisites for XML::LibXML
-- OS X 10.4.x comes with a built-in libxml2 (and libxslt, by the way), you can check that when you go to /usr/lib/, it's there
-- libxml2 comes in version 2.6.16, according to this page:
http://www.apple.com/opensource/
That means: this part of the prerequisites is aleady there, but ...
(2) XML::LibXML-Suite
-- The highly recommended XML::LibXML-Suite is unfortunately NOT part of Apple's built-in Perl.
-- It's on CPAN, and you have to install it yourself. You had... but it does not work.
-- The ususal procedure to install Perl modules is to open a terminal window, then (1) change your working directory to the perl module path with cd /path/to/module, and then execute (2) perl Makefile.PL (3) make (4) make test (5) sudo make install.
-- In almost every case, installing Perl modules is a breeze, but not this one.
-- With gcc 3.3 as the compiler, I managed to built XML::LibXML::Common v0.13, which is one of the prerequisites for XML::LibXML.
The default compiler in 10.4.x is gcc 4.0, and it throws a long list of errors during the 'make'-Phase.
So one first has to switch to gcc 3.3 with gcc_select, and that works.
BUT...
-- Neither XML::LibXML v1.58 nor v1.58_1 are likely to build or work. With gcc 4.0, no way. Maybe with gcc 3.3 (see above), but in either case you will see the following warning during 'make':
"running xml2-config...untested
WARNING!
The installed version of libxml2 was not tested with this version of XML::LibXML.
XML::LibXML may fail building or some tests may not pass.
Expect strange errors and unstable scripts.
Check the README file for more informations
END OF WARNING"
Well, the Readme does not say something helpfull.
The bug list for XML::LibXML on CPAN does not say say something helpful, too. Since two years the bug list grows, but there is no visible development or maintenance of XML::LibXML.
(3) darwinports and/or Fink
One could try to use darwinports and/or Fink as 'helper applications' to get those thingies installed, but as these two, as far as I know, use the same sources, not modified ones, you will probably end up with the same result. (But I have not tried that, and will not -- darwinports or fink, just to install a single simple Perl module? No.)
I contacted the maintainer of XML::LibXML and hope to get an answer.
But I fear we're out of luck until Apple or someone with solid C and OS X knowledge steps in.
Anyone?
But to clarify -- this problem is not only Apple/OS X related, there are some general problems with XML::LibXML in it's current state. Perl modules are expected to be platform independent, and this one isn't.
Very sad situation, XML::LibXML is essential for my work.
Anyone? Maybe we both should send Apple a feature request.
If I find out something new, I'll post it here.
Cheers
Joerg
