I'm an absolute beginner at Perl, and am trying to use some non-core modules on my shared Linux web host. I have no command line access, only FTP.

Host admins will consider installing modules on request, but the ones I want to use are updated frequently (DateTime::TimeZone for example), and I'd prefer to have control over exactly which version I'm using.

By experimentation, I've found some modules can be installed by copying files from the module's lib directory to a directory on the host, and using

use lib "local_path";

in my script, i.e. no compiling is required to install (DateTime and DateTime::TimeZone again).

How can I tell whether this is the case for a particular module? I realise I'll have to resolve dependencies myself.

Additionally: if I wanted to be able to install any module, including those which require compiling, what would I be looking for in terms of hosting?

I'm guessing at the moment I share a VM with several others and the minimum provision I'd need would be a dedicated VM with shell access?