Perl 5.28.0-1 variable issue (symbol handling?)

[monochromec]

ARM 5TE Perl build is causing strange issues when invoking aclocal as part of package build:

Operator or semicolon missing before %_local_duplicate_messages at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 315.
Ambiguous use of % resolved as operator % at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 315.
Operator or semicolon missing before %_global_duplicate_messages at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 327.
Ambiguous use of % resolved as operator % at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 327.
Operator or semicolon missing before %channel_opts at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 366.
Ambiguous use of % resolved as operator % at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 366.
Global symbol "%_local_duplicate_messages" requires explicit package name (did you forget to declare "my %_local_duplicate_messages"?) at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 286.
Global symbol "%_global_duplicate_messages" requires explicit package name (did you forget to declare "my %_global_duplicate_messages"?) at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 287.
BEGIN not safe after errors--compilation aborted at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/Channels.pm line 406.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/ChannelDefs.pm line 19.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/share/autoconf/Autom4te/ChannelDefs.pm line 19.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/bin/autom4te line 38.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/bin/autom4te line 38.
aclocal: error: echo failed with exit status: 255

The same package builds fine on a x86_64 architecture. More than happy to provide more details in case of further questions.

[monochromec]

Downgrading to 5.26.2-2 solves the issue. Apparently this is confined to v5s as a v8 build doesn't have this problem. More than happy to provide more details as required - just let me know.

[monochromec]

Replacing gcc with clang (albeit building a single-threaded Perl) doing a local build of 5.28.0-1 also solves this issue. Clang version 6.0.1 was used instead of gcc 8.1.1 20180531 (according to perl -V).

[monochromec]

Given the above cursory analysis I suspect that this is just a symptom of something way deeper (libc issue / gcc problem?). More than happy to assist with a proper RCA as required.

[wpault]

I suspect this may be related to the problem(s) I am having too with 'strict refs' etc. handling since updating to 5.28.0-1.

1. BackupPC fails to run with a failure related with version.pm

It can be reproduced outside of BackupPC with a simple test program:
>#!/usr/bin/perl
>
>use version;

When executed generates the following error:
>Can't use string ("version::regex::LAX_DOTTED_DECIM"...) as a SCALAR ref while "strict refs" in use at /usr/share/perl5/core_perl/version.pm line 21.
>Compilation failed in require at ./version-test.pl line 3.
>BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at ./version-test.pl line 3.

Commenting out the "use strict" line in version.pm appears to be a successful workaround

2. An error in test-more prevents the aur package perl-net-upnp (required for aur package mythtv) from building.

Again it can be easily reproduced outside of the aur package with a simple file:
>#!/bin/perl
>
>require Test2::API;

Output is as follows:
>Can't locate object method "context_acquire_callbacks" via package >"Test2::API::Instance" at /usr/share/perl5/core_perl/Test2/API.pm line 146.
>Compilation failed in require at ./test2-api-test.pl line 3.

I do not as yet have a workaround for this.

I logged both of these as Perl bugs but it looks like it is an architecture/distribution issue probably connected to the same underlying issue

[peter123]

All,

I ran into the same issue after upgrading from perl 5.26 to 5.28.0-1. Building my favorit AUR package which requires perl is not possible anymore. Temporary downgrading to perl 5.26 solved that issue for me - but this can't be a permanent solution. In case someone has an idea what is wrong here please let us know....
By the way I think this thread https://archlinuxarm.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=13199 is linked with this issue as well. My CPAN throws the same error message.

[pgcudahy]

I'm getting the same issue. Any progress?

[wpault]

Problem still exists with latest version of Perl (5.28.1-1).

The workaround specified above (#1) is still required for backuppc not to crash on startup