T. Sean wrote:
> 
> Would the packages system help me to get Perl to run its tests 
> successfully? 

Possibly.

> I would still be compiling on my machine, right? 

Yes.

> What is 
> different, other than the method used to get the source into my machine 
> for compiling?  I guess I am not following you.

The difference is that packages provided by NetBSD's package system are
supposed to be preconfigured and patched in such a way as to provide
completely compatible NetBSD distributions.  In other words, it should
just work for you if you use the package.  Of course, this is the way it's
_supposed_ to work, whether this is actually observed behavior or not is
another story entirely ;-)

Later.

-- 
Colin Wood                                 cwood@ichips.intel.com
Component Design Engineer - MD6                 Intel Corporation
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I speak only on my own behalf, not for my employer.