Our production server runs Ubuntu 8.4 ( Hardy ) and as such we're stuck with Perl 5.8.

I use Perl 5.10 on my development machine but cannot use 5.10 features since the code must run on the 5.8 production machine.

I would really like to get the production machine moved to 5.10 but I'm having trouble convincing my managers and sys admins.

Possible issues with upgrading perl are:

• that we use over 200 CPAN modules
• the Ubuntu Hardy repos only contain Perl 5.8 so we'd have to either upgrade to Lucid or install Perl locally.

What arguments could be used to justify an upgrade like this?

I'd like something more substantive that vague ideas about cleaner code and newer features.

Also any ideas about clean ways to upgrade a production machine like this?

Thanks in advance.