track Python 3.14 updates and latest stable Perl

.github/workflows/windows-build.yml

@@ -30,9 +30,13 @@ jobs:
 
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v7
         with:
-          python-version: '3.14.3'
+          python-version: '3.14'
+          check-latest: true
           architecture: ${{ matrix.arch }}
 
+      - name: Test Windows runtime selection
+        run: python -m unittest discover -s tools/tests -p test_windows_runtimes.py
+
       - name: Install Dependencies
         run: |
           New-Item -Name "deps" -ItemType "Directory" -Force | Out-Null
@@ -125,13 +129,13 @@ jobs:
           Download-WithRetry -Url https://github.com/ZoiteChat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.18.0-pre4/WinSparkle-20260315.7z -OutFile deps\WinSparkle.7z
           & 7z.exe x deps\WinSparkle.7z -oC:\gtk-build\WinSparkle
 
-          Download-WithRetry -Url https://github.com/ZoiteChat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.18.0-pre4/perl-5.42.0.1-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z -OutFile deps\perl-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z
-          & 7z.exe x deps\perl-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z -oC:\gtk-build\perl-5.42.0.1\${{ matrix.platform }}
+          python tools/prepare-windows-runtimes.py
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'Could not prepare Windows scripting runtimes' }
 
           $pyRoot = $env:pythonLocation
           if (-not $pyRoot) { $pyRoot = & python -c "import sys; print(sys.prefix)" }
 
-          foreach ($pyDir in @("C:\gtk-build\python-3.14.3", "C:\gtk-build\python-3.14")) {
+          foreach ($pyDir in @("C:\gtk-build\python-3.14")) {
             New-Item -Path $pyDir -ItemType Directory -Force | Out-Null
             $target = Join-Path $pyDir "${{ matrix.platform }}"
             if (Test-Path $target) { Remove-Item $target -Recurse -Force }
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           call "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\Tools\VsDevCmd.bat"
 
-          set "PYTHON_DIR=C:\gtk-build\python-3.14.3\${{ matrix.platform }}"
+          set "PYTHON_DIR=C:\gtk-build\python-3.14\${{ matrix.platform }}"
           if not exist "%PYTHON_DIR%\libs\python314.lib" (
             echo Missing %PYTHON_DIR%\libs\python314.lib
             dir "%PYTHON_DIR%\libs"
@@ -188,6 +192,13 @@ jobs:
           msbuild win32\zoitechat.sln /m /verbosity:minimal /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=${{ matrix.platform }}
           if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1
 
+          for %%P in (hcpython3 hcperl) do (
+            if not exist "..\zoitechat-build\${{ matrix.platform }}\rel\plugins\%%P.dll" (
+              echo Required scripting plugin %%P.dll was not built
+              exit /b 1
+            )
+          )
+
           if not exist "..\zoitechat-build\${{ matrix.platform }}\rel\plugins\hcpython38.dll" (
             echo hcpython38.dll was not built
             exit /b 1

.github/workflows/windows-msi-build.yml

@@ -31,9 +31,13 @@ jobs:
 
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v7
         with:
-          python-version: '3.14.3'
+          python-version: '3.14'
+          check-latest: true
           architecture: ${{ matrix.arch }}
 
+      - name: Test Windows runtime selection
+        run: python -m unittest discover -s tools/tests -p test_windows_runtimes.py
+
       - name: Install Dependencies
         shell: pwsh
         run: |
@@ -133,13 +137,13 @@ jobs:
           Download-WithRetry -Url https://github.com/ZoiteChat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.18.0-pre4/WinSparkle-20260315.7z -OutFile deps\WinSparkle.7z
           & 7z.exe x deps\WinSparkle.7z -oC:\gtk-build\WinSparkle
 
-          Download-WithRetry -Url https://github.com/ZoiteChat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.18.0-pre4/perl-5.42.0.1-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z -OutFile deps\perl-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z
-          & 7z.exe x deps\perl-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z -oC:\gtk-build\perl-5.42.0.1\${{ matrix.platform }}
+          python tools/prepare-windows-runtimes.py
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'Could not prepare Windows scripting runtimes' }
 
           $pyRoot = $env:pythonLocation
           if (-not $pyRoot) { $pyRoot = & python -c "import sys; print(sys.prefix)" }
 
-          foreach ($pyDir in @("C:\gtk-build\python-3.14.3", "C:\gtk-build\python-3.14")) {
+          foreach ($pyDir in @("C:\gtk-build\python-3.14")) {
             New-Item -Path $pyDir -ItemType Directory -Force | Out-Null
             $target = Join-Path $pyDir "${{ matrix.platform }}"
             if (Test-Path $target) { Remove-Item $target -Recurse -Force }
@@ -172,7 +176,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           call "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\Tools\VsDevCmd.bat"
 
-          set "PYTHON_DIR=C:\gtk-build\python-3.14.3\${{ matrix.platform }}"
+          set "PYTHON_DIR=C:\gtk-build\python-3.14\${{ matrix.platform }}"
           if not exist "%PYTHON_DIR%\libs\python314.lib" (
             echo Missing %PYTHON_DIR%\libs\python314.lib
             dir "%PYTHON_DIR%\libs"
@@ -198,6 +202,13 @@ jobs:
           msbuild win32\zoitechat.sln /m /verbosity:minimal /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=${{ matrix.platform }}
           if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1
 
+          for %%P in (hcpython3 hcperl) do (
+            if not exist "..\zoitechat-build\${{ matrix.platform }}\rel\plugins\%%P.dll" (
+              echo Required scripting plugin %%P.dll was not built
+              exit /b 1
+            )
+          )
+
           if not exist "..\zoitechat-build\${{ matrix.platform }}\rel\plugins\hcpython38.dll" (
             echo hcpython38.dll was not built
             exit /b 1

.gitignore

@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ html/
 *.patch
 tags
 # Win32 generated files
+win32/runtimes.generated.props
+win32/installer/runtimes.generated.iss
+/tools/__pycache__/
+/tools/tests/__pycache__/
 plugins/wmpa/wmpa_h.h
 plugins/wmpa/wmpa_i.c
 src/htm/obj/*

docs/building.rst

@@ -53,6 +53,37 @@ Python path if your install is elsewhere::
     cmd /c mklink /J C:\gtk-build\python-3.14\x64 C:\Python314
     C:\gtk-build\python-3.14\x64\python.exe -m pip install --upgrade pip cffi
 
+Windows runtime updates
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Both Windows workflows select the latest stable Python **3.14.x** using
+``actions/setup-python`` with ``check-latest: true``. Python 3.15 and prereleases
+are excluded. The separate Python 3.8.10 build for older Windows is retained.
+
+``tools/prepare-windows-runtimes.py`` selects the highest stable x64 Strawberry
+Perl version from its official release feed, verifies the portable ZIP against
+the published SHA-256, and checks the extracted interpreter's version and
+architecture before building. Development versions (odd Perl minor numbers)
+are excluded. The generated MSBuild properties select its headers and DLL;
+the generated Inno include selects the matching MSI, Python installer URL and
+component descriptions. Build logs record the exact selected versions.
+
+For a manual build, first install the latest Python 3.14 point release (at least
+3.14.8), prepare its junction and CFFI as above, then run from the checkout::
+
+    C:\gtk-build\python-3.14\x64\python.exe tools\prepare-windows-runtimes.py
+
+The script downloads the complete Strawberry portable distribution under
+``C:\gtk-build``. Generated configuration files are ignored by Git. Running
+it again refreshes that dependency; builds without generated files retain the
+original manually configured Perl bundle.
+
+Updates happen when a new ZoiteChat build runs. An existing installation keeps
+using its installed compatible Python or Perl; installing/updating ZoiteChat
+does not force an upgrade of an already detected system runtime. MSI/MSIX
+continue to package the scripting plugins; the Inno installer offers runtime
+downloads when the corresponding runtime DLL is missing.
+
 If you use different locations, set these environment variables before building
 instead of editing ``win32\zoitechat.props``:
 

tools/prepare-windows-runtimes.py

@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Prepare current Windows scripting dependencies and matching installer metadata."""
+
+import argparse
+import hashlib
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import time
+import urllib.request
+from urllib.parse import urlsplit
+import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+import zipfile
+
+RELEASES_URL = "https://strawberryperl.com/releases.json"
+RELEASE_ROOT = "https://github.com/StrawberryPerl/Perl-Dist-Strawberry/releases/download/"
+MSBUILD_NS = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003"
+
+
+def select_perl(releases):
+    """Compare versions, not publication dates: older branches get newer releases too."""
+    candidates = []
+    for release in releases:
+        version = release.get("version", "")
+        if not re.fullmatch(r"5\.\d+\.\d+\.\d+", version):
+            continue
+        parts = tuple(map(int, version.split(".")))
+        if parts[1] % 2 or release.get("archname") != "MSWin32-x64-multi-thread":
+            continue
+        if not all(kind in release.get("edition", {}) for kind in ("portable", "msi")):
+            continue
+        candidates.append((parts, release))
+    if not candidates:
+        raise ValueError("No stable x64 Strawberry Perl release with portable ZIP and MSI")
+    release = max(candidates, key=lambda item: item[0])[1]
+    for kind, suffix in (("portable", "portable.zip"), ("msi", "msi")):
+        package = release["edition"][kind]
+        expected_name = f"strawberry-perl-{release['version']}-64bit-{suffix}"
+        if kind == "msi":
+            expected_name = f"strawberry-perl-{release['version']}-64bit.msi"
+        url = package.get("url", "")
+        if not url.startswith(RELEASE_ROOT) or urlsplit(url).path.rsplit("/", 1)[-1] != expected_name:
+            raise ValueError(f"Unexpected Strawberry Perl {kind} URL: {url}")
+        if not re.fullmatch(r"[0-9a-fA-F]{64}", package.get("sha256", "")):
+            raise ValueError(f"Missing SHA-256 for Strawberry Perl {kind}")
+    return release
+
+
+def download(url, destination):
+    for attempt in range(4):
+        try:
+            request = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"User-Agent": "ZoiteChat-build"})
+            with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response, destination.open("wb") as output:
+                while chunk := response.read(1024 * 1024):
+                    output.write(chunk)
+            return
+        except (OSError, TimeoutError):
+            if attempt == 3:
+                raise
+            time.sleep(2 ** attempt)
+
+
+def write_metadata(repo, perl_root, release, python_version):
+    parts = release["version"].split(".")
+    perl_lib = f"perl{parts[0]}{parts[1]}"
+    ET.register_namespace("", MSBUILD_NS)
+    project = ET.Element(f"{{{MSBUILD_NS}}}Project")
+    group = ET.SubElement(project, "PropertyGroup")
+    ET.SubElement(group, "PerlPath").text = str(perl_root)
+    ET.SubElement(group, "PerlLib").text = perl_lib
+    ET.ElementTree(project).write(repo / "win32/runtimes.generated.props", encoding="utf-8", xml_declaration=True)
+    # Only numeric versions and validated upstream URLs enter the Inno source.
+    definitions = {
+        "PythonRuntimeVersion": python_version,
+        "PythonRuntimeURL": f"https://www.python.org/ftp/python/{python_version}/python-{python_version}-amd64.exe",
+        "PerlRuntimeVersion": release["version"],
+        "PerlRuntimeURL": release["edition"]["msi"]["url"],
+        "PerlRuntimeDLL": f"{perl_lib}.dll",
+    }
+    (repo / "win32/installer/runtimes.generated.iss").write_text(
+        "// Generated by tools/prepare-windows-runtimes.py\n"
+        + "".join(f'#define {key} "{value}"\n' for key, value in definitions.items()),
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument("--deps-root", type=Path, default=Path("C:/gtk-build"))
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    if sys.platform != "win32" or sys.version_info[:2] != (3, 14) or sys.version_info[:3] < (3, 14, 8) or sys.version_info.releaselevel != "final":
+        parser.error("Run with stable x64 Python 3.14.8 or newer within the 3.14 branch")
+    if sys.maxsize <= 2 ** 32:
+        parser.error("The Windows build requires x64 Python")
+    repo = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+    # Do not let an interrupted refresh leave metadata from an older dependency.
+    for relative in ("win32/runtimes.generated.props", "win32/installer/runtimes.generated.iss"):
+        (repo / relative).unlink(missing_ok=True)
+    args.deps_root.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(dir=args.deps_root) as temporary:
+        temporary = Path(temporary)
+        metadata = temporary / "releases.json"
+        download(RELEASES_URL, metadata)
+        release = select_perl(json.loads(metadata.read_text(encoding="utf-8")))
+        archive = temporary / "perl.zip"
+        download(release["edition"]["portable"]["url"], archive)
+        with archive.open("rb") as source:
+            digest = hashlib.file_digest(source, "sha256").hexdigest()
+        if digest.lower() != release["edition"]["portable"]["sha256"].lower():
+            raise ValueError("Strawberry Perl portable ZIP SHA-256 mismatch")
+        # Keep the portable distribution intact, including its companion C DLLs.
+        target = args.deps_root / f"strawberry-perl-{release['version']}" / "x64"
+        extracted = temporary / "extracted"
+        with zipfile.ZipFile(archive) as package:
+            package.extractall(extracted)
+        target.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        if target.exists():
+            shutil.rmtree(target)
+        shutil.move(extracted, target)
+    perl_root = target / "perl"
+    environment = os.environ.copy()
+    paths = [str(perl_root / "bin"), str(target / "c/bin")]
+    environment["PATH"] = os.pathsep.join(paths + [environment.get("PATH", "")])
+    perl_lib = "perl" + "".join(release["version"].split(".")[:2])
+    for required in (perl_root / "bin/perl.exe", perl_root / f"bin/{perl_lib}.dll", perl_root / "lib/CORE/perl.h"):
+        if not required.is_file():
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Strawberry Perl is missing {required}")
+    actual = subprocess.check_output(
+        [str(perl_root / "bin/perl.exe"), "-MConfig", "-e", 'print "$Config{version}|$Config{archname}"'],
+        env=environment, text=True,
+    ).strip()
+    expected = ".".join(release["version"].split(".")[:3]) + "|MSWin32-x64-multi-thread"
+    if actual != expected:
+        raise ValueError(f"Unexpected Perl runtime: {actual}; expected {expected}")
+    python_version = ".".join(map(str, sys.version_info[:3]))
+    write_metadata(repo, perl_root, release, python_version)
+    if os.environ.get("GITHUB_PATH"):
+        with open(os.environ["GITHUB_PATH"], "a", encoding="utf-8") as output:
+            output.write("\n".join(paths) + "\n")
+    print(f"Windows runtimes: Python {python_version}; Strawberry Perl {release['version']}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()

tools/tests/test_windows_runtimes.py

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+"""Regression coverage for stable release selection and build/installer alignment."""
+
+import copy
+import importlib.util
+from pathlib import Path
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+
+spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(
+    "windows_runtimes", Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / "prepare-windows-runtimes.py"
+)
+runtimes = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+spec.loader.exec_module(runtimes)
+
+
+def release(version, arch="MSWin32-x64-multi-thread"):
+    prefix = runtimes.RELEASE_ROOT + "SP_" + version.replace(".", "") + "_64bit/"
+    stem = f"strawberry-perl-{version}-64bit"
+    return {
+        "version": version,
+        "archname": arch,
+        "edition": {
+            "portable": {"url": prefix + stem + "-portable.zip", "sha256": "a" * 64},
+            "msi": {"url": prefix + stem + ".msi", "sha256": "b" * 64},
+        },
+    }
+
+
+class RuntimeTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_compares_versions_instead_of_feed_order_or_dates(self):
+        releases = [release("5.40.5.1"), release("5.42.3.1"), release("5.42.0.1")]
+        self.assertEqual(runtimes.select_perl(releases)["version"], "5.42.3.1")
+
+    def test_numeric_patch_order(self):
+        self.assertEqual(runtimes.select_perl([release("5.42.9.1"), release("5.42.10.1")])["version"], "5.42.10.1")
+
+    def test_filters_development_prerelease_and_wrong_architecture(self):
+        releases = [release("5.43.1.1"), release("5.44.0.1-RC1"), release("5.44.0.1", "MSWin32-x86-multi-thread"), release("5.42.3.1")]
+        self.assertEqual(runtimes.select_perl(releases)["version"], "5.42.3.1")
+
+    def test_accepts_next_stable_branch(self):
+        self.assertEqual(runtimes.select_perl([release("5.42.3.1"), release("5.44.0.1")])["version"], "5.44.0.1")
+
+    def test_requires_both_build_and_installer_packages(self):
+        newer = release("5.44.0.1")
+        del newer["edition"]["msi"]
+        self.assertEqual(runtimes.select_perl([newer, release("5.42.3.1")])["version"], "5.42.3.1")
+
+    def test_fails_if_no_suitable_release_exists(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            runtimes.select_perl([release("5.43.1.1")])
+
+    def test_rejects_bad_hashes_untrusted_hosts_and_wrong_packages(self):
+        for kind in ("portable", "msi"):
+            for field, value in (("sha256", ""), ("url", "https://example.org/perl.zip"), ("url", runtimes.RELEASE_ROOT + "SP/strawberry-perl-5.40.5.1-64bit.msi")):
+                with self.subTest(kind=kind, field=field, value=value):
+                    invalid = copy.deepcopy(release("5.42.3.1"))
+                    invalid["edition"][kind][field] = value
+                    with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+                        runtimes.select_perl([invalid])
+
+    def test_generated_dll_and_installer_follow_selected_release(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory:
+            repo = Path(directory)
+            (repo / "win32/installer").mkdir(parents=True)
+            selected = release("5.44.1.1")
+            perl_root = Path("C:/gtk-build/Perl & tools/perl")
+            runtimes.write_metadata(repo, perl_root, selected, "3.14.8")
+            props = ET.parse(repo / "win32/runtimes.generated.props")
+            ns = {"m": runtimes.MSBUILD_NS}
+            self.assertEqual(props.find("m:PropertyGroup/m:PerlLib", ns).text, "perl544")
+            self.assertEqual(props.find("m:PropertyGroup/m:PerlPath", ns).text, str(perl_root))
+            installer = (repo / "win32/installer/runtimes.generated.iss").read_text()
+            self.assertIn('#define PerlRuntimeDLL "perl544.dll"', installer)
+            self.assertIn(selected["edition"]["msi"]["url"], installer)
+            self.assertIn("/3.14.8/python-3.14.8-amd64.exe", installer)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()

win32/installer/zoitechat.iss.tt

@@ -4,6 +4,18 @@
 ;#define APPARCH "x64"
 ;#define PROJECTDIR "C:\...\zoitechat\win32\installer\"
 
+; CI generates these from the runtimes actually used to build the plugins.
+#if FileExists(PROJECTDIR + "runtimes.generated.iss")
+  #include PROJECTDIR + "runtimes.generated.iss"
+#else
+  ; Manual builds without the preparation script retain the original Perl bundle.
+  #define PythonRuntimeVersion "3.14.8"
+  #define PythonRuntimeURL "https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.14.8/python-3.14.8-amd64.exe"
+  #define PerlRuntimeVersion "5.42.0.1"
+  #define PerlRuntimeURL "https://github.com/StrawberryPerl/Perl-Dist-Strawberry/releases/download/SP_54201_64bit/strawberry-perl-5.42.0.1-64bit.msi"
+  #define PerlRuntimeDLL "perl542.dll"
+#endif
+
 [Setup]
 AppName=ZoiteChat
 AppVersion={#APPVER}
@@ -58,8 +70,8 @@ Name: "plugins\sysinfo"; Description: "SysInfo"; Types: custom; Flags: disableno
 Name: "plugins\upd"; Description: "Update Checker"; Types: normal custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
 Name: "langs"; Description: "Language Interfaces"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
 Name: "langs\lua"; Description: "Lua (LuaJIT 2.1)"; Types: normal custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
-Name: "langs\perl"; Description: "Perl (Strawberry Perl 5.42.0.1)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
-Name: "langs\python"; Description: "Python (Python 3.14.3, or 3.8.10 before Windows 10)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
+Name: "langs\perl"; Description: "Perl (Strawberry Perl {#PerlRuntimeVersion})"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
+Name: "langs\python"; Description: "Python (Python {#PythonRuntimeVersion}, or 3.8.10 before Windows 10)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
 Name: "themes"; Description: "GTK3 Themes"; Types: normal minimal custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
 Name: "themes\windows10"; Description: "Windows 10"; Types: normal minimal custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
 Name: "themes\windows10dark"; Description: "Windows 10 Dark"; Types: normal minimal custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
@@ -349,7 +361,7 @@ begin
 	if NeedsLegacyPython() then
 		Result := 'https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.8.10/python-3.8.10-amd64.exe'
 	else
-		Result := 'https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.14.3/python-3.14.3-amd64.exe';
+		Result := '{#PythonRuntimeURL}';
 end;
 
 function PythonDLL(): String;
@@ -387,7 +399,7 @@ begin
 	begin
 
 		REDIST := 'https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe';
-		PERL := 'https://github.com/StrawberryPerl/Perl-Dist-Strawberry/releases/download/SP_54201_64bit/strawberry-perl-5.42.0.1-64bit.msi';
+		PERL := '{#PerlRuntimeURL}';
 		PY3 := PythonURL();
 		SPELL := 'https://github.com/hexchat/gvsbuild/releases/download/hexchat-2.16.2/HexChat.Spelling.Dictionaries.r2.exe';
 
@@ -399,7 +411,7 @@ begin
 
 		if not WizardSilent() then
 		begin
-			if WizardIsComponentSelected('langs\perl') and not CheckDLL('perl542.dll') then
+			if WizardIsComponentSelected('langs\perl') and not CheckDLL('{#PerlRuntimeDLL}') then
 			begin
 				idpAddFile(PERL, ExpandConstant('{tmp}\perl.msi'))
 			end;

win32/zoitechat.props

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+	<Import Project="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)runtimes.generated.props" Condition="Exists('$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)runtimes.generated.props')" />
 	<PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros">
 
 		<!-- SPECIFY YOUR DEPENDENCY DIRECTORIES HERE -->
@@ -24,8 +25,8 @@
 		<DepsRoot>$(YourDepsPath)\$(ZoiteChatPlatform)\release</DepsRoot>
 		<GendefPath>$(YourGendefPath)</GendefPath>
 		<WinSparklePath>$(YourWinSparklePath)\$(ZoiteChatPlatform)</WinSparklePath>
-		<PerlPath>$(YourPerlPath)\$(ZoiteChatPlatform)</PerlPath>
-		<PerlLib>perl542</PerlLib>
+		<PerlPath Condition="'$(PerlPath)'==''">$(YourPerlPath)\$(ZoiteChatPlatform)</PerlPath>
+		<PerlLib Condition="'$(PerlLib)'==''">perl542</PerlLib>
 
 		<Python3Path>$(YourPython3Path)\$(ZoiteChatPlatform)</Python3Path>
 		<Python3Lib>python314</Python3Lib>