How to downgrade Perl on Mac OS X Mavericks - macos

Question

The newly release Mavericks has removed the deprecated module "Switch.pm" from its repository.
However, I have recently try to build AOSP source tree and it somehow uses this module to generate "make-hash-tools.pl"
The Mavericks has perl version of 5.16.2, and its predecessor Mountain Lion has a 5.12.4. Is there a way to downgrade my Perl?
Compilation error looks like this:
Can't locate Switch.pm in #INC (#INC contains: /Library/Perl/5.16/darwin-thread-\
multi-2level /Library/Perl/5.16 /Network/Library/Perl/5.16/darwin-thread-multi-2level\
/Network/Library/Perl/5.16 /Library/Perl/Updates/5.16.2\
/System/Library/Perl/5.16/darwin-thread-multi-2level /System/Library/Perl/5.16\
/System/Library/Perl/Extras/5.16/darwin-thread-multi-2level \
/System/Library/Perl/Extras/5.16 .) at external/webkit/Source/WebCore\
/make-hash-tools.pl line 23.
Thanks~!

Answer 1

You can use perlbrew to install a parallel version of Perl in its own directory with its own modules. Currently it lets you install Perl as far back as 5.003_07, although not all of them are supported by Perl Porters for security fixes.
It would probably be simpler to install Switch from CPAN though.

Answer 2

looks like running sudo cpanm Switch --force worked for me

Answer 3

you can also use this:
$ sudo defaults write '/Library/Preferences/com.apple.versioner.perl' Version 5.12
It makes perl run version 12 for most stuff. Unfortunately, not for apache ...

Answer 4

Worked for me on 10.9.2, with no "force".
cpan[2]> install Switch
Running install for module 'Switch'
Running make for C/CH/CHORNY/Switch-2.17.tar.gz
Fetching with LWP:
... bunch of fetch stuff ...
CPAN.pm: Building C/CH/CHORNY/Switch-2.17.tar.gz
Checking if your kit is complete...
Looks good
Writing Makefile for Switch
Writing MYMETA.yml and MYMETA.json
... a bunch of xcode license stuff ...
cp Switch.pm blib/lib/Switch.pm
Manifying blib/man3/Switch.3pm
CHORNY/Switch-2.17.tar.gz
/usr/bin/make -- OK
'YAML' not installed, will not store persistent state
Running make test
PERL_DL_NONLAZY=1 /usr/bin/perl "-MExtUtils::Command::MM" "-e" "test_harness(0, 'blib/lib', 'blib/arch')" t/*.t
t/given.t ... ok
t/nested.t .. ok
t/switch.t .. ok
All tests successful.
Files=3, Tests=590, 0 wallclock secs ( 0.04 usr 0.01 sys + 0.22 cusr 0.01 csys = 0.28 CPU)
Result: PASS
CHORNY/Switch-2.17.tar.gz
/usr/bin/make test -- OK
Running make install
Installing /Library/Perl/5.16/Switch.pm
Installing /usr/local/share/man/man3/Switch.3pm
Appending installation info to /Library/Perl/Updates/5.16.2/darwin-thread-multi-2level/perllocal.pod
CHORNY/Switch-2.17.tar.gz
/usr/bin/make install -- OK
I then ran my code that previously pitched the "Can't locate Switch.pm in #INC" error, and the code ran fine.

Answer 5

I found another command :
sudo cpan -f Switch
I had to execute the command 2 times but for me it works on Yosemite. Thank s this blog.

Answer 6

I find these command works.
sudo perl -MCPAN -e shell
cpan > force install Switch