cpanm "installdeps" from cpanfile failed in CI

By Daniel Zoghalchali·Latchkey

cpanm parsed the cpanfile and tried to install every declared dependency; one of them failed. As with any cpanm failure, the summary points at build.log for the real cause.

What this error means

cpanm --installdeps . ends with "! Installing the dependencies failed: ..." and lists the modules it could not install.

--> Working on .
Configuring App-MyApp ... OK
! Installing the dependencies failed: Module 'XML::LibXML' is not installed
! Bailing out the installation for App-MyApp.

Common causes

An XS dependency needs system libraries

A module like XML::LibXML compiles against libxml2; without the -dev package the build fails and installdeps bails out.

A test or version constraint could not be met

A declared minimum version or a failing self-test in a dependency stops the batch install.

How to fix it

Install system libraries then installdeps with --notest

1. Install the -dev libraries the XS dependencies need.
2. Run cpanm --installdeps with --notest to skip dependency self-tests.
3. Run your own tests afterward.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y build-essential libxml2-dev zlib1g-dev
cpanm --notest --installdeps .

Include develop dependencies when needed

Add --with-develop so develop-phase modules from the cpanfile are installed too.

cpanm --notest --installdeps --with-develop .

How to prevent it

• Install XS -dev system libraries before installdeps.
• Use --notest for dependency installs; run project tests separately.
• Keep cpanfile phases (runtime/test/develop) accurate.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

References

• GitHub Actions documentation