Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Thu, 23 Oct 2008 at 09:25:53AM +0100, Damian Brasher wrote: > Steve Kemp wrote: > > On Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 03:57:42 +0100, Damian Brasher wrote: > > > >> Llama is a must read though, now one of my favorite tech books of > >> all time, Schwart, Pheonix & foy actually managed to make me laugh a > >> few times just at the right time:) not sure who the funny one of the > >> three is. > > > > Good book yes. > > > > If you've not already seen it then you might like: > > > > http://www.perlmonks.org/ > > > > Thanks - took a look and have created an account:) Watch out the place is full of people asking a question and being rude when they are given some help but politely told to also look in the manual or a book. If you ask sensible questions and enter into the spirit of the place it's a great forum. -- Adam Trickett Overton, HANTS, UK Despite all its complexity, fuzziness, uncertainty and spooky action- at-a-distance, quantum mechanics is probably a Good Thing. However, I must also note that QM permits Microsoft Windows to exist. -- John Walker -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
Steve Kemp wrote: > On Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 03:57:42 +0100, Damian Brasher wrote: > >> Llama is a must read though, now one of my favorite tech books of >> all time, Schwart, Pheonix & foy actually managed to make me laugh a >> few times just at the right time:) not sure who the funny one of the >> three is. > > Good book yes. > > If you've not already seen it then you might like: > > http://www.perlmonks.org/ > Thanks - took a look and have created an account:) -- Damian L Brasher http://www.diap.org.uk - Quick and low-cost way to make an environment more robust by backing up data in multiple places. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
Daniel Pope wrote: > On Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 03:57:42AM +0100, Damian Brasher wrote: >> after several months >> slowly picking my way through the syntax I can read it and make >> subroutines work and play with functions, manipulate context and >> regex's. > > I programmed my first functional Python scripts within hours. > > > A few years ago I setup a Protex CGI donation page using a Perl with my then limited Perl knowledge in a few hours. Perl is a high level language (so is Python) therefore rather than being made of many small similar building blocks (like C or even more basic building blocks; assembly) it is made up of larger more complex constructs which take longer to learn but allow fast program construction. I needed to feel confident with the language and know the core well enough to think strategically last week. Also I may attract a more experienced developer in which case I need to know more than I use. I went through the core of Perl in my spare time and believe this was time well invested. Cheers Damian -- Damian L Brasher http://www.diap.org.uk - Quick and low-cost way to make an environment more robust by backing up data in multiple places. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
2008/10/16 Jacqui Caren <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > Having worked with a wide range fo languages from BCPL, C, through to > Ada I like the flexibility and *responsibility* perl gives you. Oh kindred spirit! I don't think I've ever come across another BCPL user before. (And people talk about *Perl* as being idiosyncratic...) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 03:57:42AM +0100, Damian Brasher wrote: > after several months > slowly picking my way through the syntax I can read it and make > subroutines work and play with functions, manipulate context and regex's. I programmed my first functional Python scripts within hours. Dan -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
Gordon Scott wrote: > I'd definitely agree that coder is more relevant than the language when > it comes to readability. I agree - and would like to add that perl has the stigma of being a "web tool" when it is used by various orgs as part of business critical systems. My employer collects data from telecoms switches - and reconfigures said switches - with perl's help. I like the way that you can use the POD to encapsulate tests, WSDL etc. Having worked with a wide range fo languages from BCPL, C, through to Ada I like the flexibility and *responsibility* perl gives you. I have helped train junior members of staff and insisted that they roll both pod, stub code and tests before starting to code the real application. In almost all cases this has worked. I was also one of the first perl clinic "medics" and have seen some truly terrible "professional" perl written by companies that should know better. Jacqui -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
Hi Guys, I thought I'd add my couple of pen'orth. I'd definitely agree that coder is more relevant than the language when it comes to readability. It's all too easy to do something clever which ends up not being clever at all if it's later uncomprehended. Why are so many people so frightened of using white space? It costs little in a script and nothing in a compiled program? Odd! For mini-to-midi applications, particularly when GUI, I increasingly find myself returning to a language nobody has yet mentioned .. Tcl/Tk. It's one of those languages that gets overlooked, perhaps as non-sexy on non-macho. But it's simple elegant and surprisingly powerful. I usually build the GUI with vTcl and commit the lot at the end with ActiveState'e compiler/obfuscator if I want to keep things proprietery. FWIW, for GUI/scripting, I mostly use Tcl/Tk, then Python or Perl, depending which language has, in my opinion(tm), the nicer fit to the task. My web stuff is mostly perl, though. ATB, Gordon. -- Gordon Scott http://www.gscott.co.uk Haiku: Tragic Irony Imagined Life Without Walls Windows Crashed to the Floor. Linux ... Because I like to *get* there today. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
> EVERY language I have encountered, in over > forty years of programming, can be written in a way which makes it > reasonably easy for a competent programmer to read or maintain. You've clearly never written anything in Intercal... :-) Vic. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
Hugo Mills wrote: > >I think there are two reasons for perl's reputation. One is that > perl has rather more awkward corners and bizarre-looking language > constructs than most non-stunt languages. The second is cultural... > One of my .sig lines reads: > > "There's more than one way to do it" is not a commandment. > It is a dire warning. > This reminds me of my early days with C and how quickly the shorthand/shortcuts become unreadable and hence difficult to maintain. Perl is a very powerful and mature and I find that I use it mainly because there is a wealth of examples to learn from. I'm slowly moving to python but find PHP easier for web applications and Perl for scripting. Whatever language you choose, you must think about maintenance and security and then it shouldn't really matter which one you choose. With Linux, you are spoilt as bash, perl and python are normally installed by default, which possible leads to a similar warning "if there is more than one language to choose from, it is not a commandment, it is a dilemma!". John. -- -- Discover Linux - Open Source Solutions to Business and Schools http://discoverlinux.co.uk -- -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Wednesday 15 Oct 2008, Damian Brasher wrote: > Unearthly hour, > > The learning curve so far has been relatively steep, but once through the > Llama book and practicing with small scripts now after several months > slowly picking my way through the syntax I can read it and make > subroutines work and play with functions, manipulate context and regex's. > Coding is much smoother than in Bash and for the approx. 600 lines I have > just written Bash would have become too cumbersome. I really like the > warnings and use of strict pragma, the feedback has been understandable > and very decipherable for debugging. I also like the syntax, it's easy on > the eye, curly, and lends itself to readability and fits in well with my C > knowledge. Larry Wall is a clever chap! Llama is a must read though, now > one of my favorite tech books of all time, Schwart, Pheonix & foy actually > managed to make me laugh a few times just at the right time:) not sure who > the funny one of the three is. I'm pleased to see another Perl user in the world! > It's great so far - still new to me but have just finishing tapping out my > first reasonable sized app. Yep, sh, you guessed it > diap-alpha-dev-v0.1 in Perl at long last...bit br0ken in places but > written. I like Perl for a number of reasons: 1) I know it better than Bash, Python or Ruby, knowing something gives it a start over similar languages. 2) Small/dynamic languages like Perl are a really good fit for the kind of problems I face. c/c++/Java is over the top for most of what I do and Bash/awk/sed is often too simple. Perl is fits in the sweet-spot. 3) CPAN is without doubt one of the most powerful things that Perl has, thousands of reusable components all ready to use for pretty much any problem. 4) The Perl community is great, very lively and friendly. 5) I like the language, it's flexible, is good a doing what you mean, it's easy to write clear maintainable code. There are problems but they are controllable and often over-reported: 1) It's possible to write bad code, though that's possible in any language. 2) Some people in the past have been a bit snotty, though it's less of a problem more recently. 3) There are elements of the Perl core that are less than ideal, though it is getting better and when Perl6 comes out lots of things will get fixed. I wouldn't make a Python use Perl just because I say so, but I would say that if you want to learn a dynamic language then Perl is a good one to look at. -- Adam Trickett Overton, HANTS, UK I guess that, if you're in Microsoft's shoes, it makes sense. If you can't write software or protocols that can stably walk and chew gum, program in a limit that prevents the user from telling it to do so. -- Jonathan Patschke, on limitations in Active Directory signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
Hugo, you're absolutely right! Forgive me if this begins to sound like a bit of a rant, but I get a bit cross when people start talking about any programming language as being difficult to read or maintain. EVERY language I have encountered, in over forty years of programming, can be written in a way which makes it reasonably easy for a competent programmer to read or maintain. (Even APL!) The fact that so many programmers seem to be unable (or too lazy?) to do so has nothing whatsoever to do with the language. I use Perl, and find it extraordinarily useful, but I confess that I derive most delight in writing APL one-liners and then honing them to routines which work wonderfully but are impenetrable to most people. However, I would never think of releasing them into the wild in that form. Indeed, I have sometimes de-constructed functions and added copious notes to aid comprehension when it has become necessary to do so. These discussions degenerate too often into doctrinal wars, when the true culprits are those who fail, for whatever reason, to express themselves clearly. Chris. > On the other hand, as one of the maintainers of a 130k-line perl > webapp, I can confirm that it *can* be written to be (mostly) > readable, maintainable, and sensible. > > Hugo. > > -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 08:17:58PM +0100, Steve Kemp wrote: > On Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 20:13:31 +0100, Stephen Rowles wrote: > > However for applications I hate perl! It is far to easy to write perl code > > that is impossible to read, and some of those magic perl tricks can make > > it even worse! There are so many nasty horrible things you can do with > > perl, and far to many people use them ;) (usually all of them at once if > > they possibly can!) > > Every time I hear this complaint I think of myself. I say exactly > the same thing about the majority of PHP code I touch - but that is > probably because I'm cleaning up security holes. > > Honestly I don't understand why Perl has this reputation. It is > possible to do clever "tricks" in any environment interesting enough > to be useful. Similarly a bad coder will be a bad coder regardless > of implementation language. I think there are two reasons for perl's reputation. One is that perl has rather more awkward corners and bizarre-looking language constructs than most non-stunt languages. The second is cultural... One of my .sig lines reads: "There's more than one way to do it" is not a commandment. It is a dire warning. I stand by that statement. :) On the other hand, as one of the maintainers of a 130k-line perl webapp, I can confirm that it *can* be written to be (mostly) readable, maintainable, and sensible. Hugo. -- === Hugo Mills: [EMAIL PROTECTED] carfax.org.uk | darksatanic.net | lug.org.uk === PGP key: 515C238D from wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net or http://www.carfax.org.uk --- Two things came out of Berkeley in the 1960s: LSD and Unix. --- This is not a coincidence. signature.asc Description: Digital signature -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
> Every time I hear this complaint I think of myself. I say exactly > the same thing about the majority of PHP code I touch - but that is > probably because I'm cleaning up security holes. I have to say I would say the same thing about PHP, in my opinion it suffers from many of the same problems as Perl. > > Honestly I don't understand why Perl has this reputation. It is > possible to do clever "tricks" in any environment interesting enough > to be useful. Similarly a bad coder will be a bad coder regardless > of implementation language. My opinion comes from having spent the best part of 2 years having to work with it on a regular basis on a large internal company system. While I agree that a bad coder will write bad code in any language there are some languages that make it much harder to write bad code than others. Both PHP and Perl suffer in their OO implementation in that it only makes it look like OO, making it far too easy for people to access the underlying code which then makes for brittle systems when they do. And of course there is nothing you can do to stop them, unlike other languages that provide better encapsulation. People will always do the wrong thing because they don't know better, are under time pressure, or even because they think it's the right thing. If your language provides tools to prevent people make bad short cuts, it leads to better code in the long run. And that is especially important in large projects with multiple developers. >> I think perl is a good tool, just often mis-used for things where it >> really isn't the best tool for the job. > > I think junior developers are good, but often mis-used for applications > which later become important .. junior developers are usually supervised, so you can lay the blame at the more senior people's door for not keeping check on them. You can't do that with Perl :) But more seriously, if you want to write a large enterprise system, don't do it in Perl it was never designed or intended to be used for that sort of thing. On the other hand, if you want to quickly parse a log file to look for errors, don't use C because it would be much quicker and easier, and more flexible to write it in Perl. My main beef is that Perl, which is a scripting language, should be used for situations that are well suited to scripting languages. I am a great believer in the right tool for the right job and while perl is a great tool, it isn't the right one for every job, despite what some people think ;) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:13:31 +0100 (BST), [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: > I'll probably be the only one who says this, but I'm not a perl fan. You won't (I'm not a perl fan). I've never really worked out exactly why, but it just doesn't gel with me. Assembler, C, Python I'm happy with; Bash always feels a bit contrived once you start doing anything at all complex; PHP is fine, but after Python I just find the semicolons and braces irritating. All that said, I will hand it to CPAN, which I think is good. Keith -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 20:13:31 +0100, Stephen Rowles wrote: > As a replacement for something like bash, I think perl is a great thing. Agreed. > However for applications I hate perl! It is far to easy to write perl code > that is impossible to read, and some of those magic perl tricks can make > it even worse! There are so many nasty horrible things you can do with > perl, and far to many people use them ;) (usually all of them at once if > they possibly can!) Every time I hear this complaint I think of myself. I say exactly the same thing about the majority of PHP code I touch - but that is probably because I'm cleaning up security holes. Honestly I don't understand why Perl has this reputation. It is possible to do clever "tricks" in any environment interesting enough to be useful. Similarly a bad coder will be a bad coder regardless of implementation language. I could give examples of bad PHP, bad C, bad C++, and many more without too much effort. Similarly things that are tricks to some people are idiomatic expressions to others. (e.g. the first time a saw Duff's Device in C, or the temp-free XOR swap trick in C.) > I think perl is a good tool, just often mis-used for things where it > really isn't the best tool for the job. I think junior developers are good, but often mis-used for applications which later become important .. Steve -- http://www.steve.org.uk/ -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
> The learning curve so far has been relatively steep, but once through the > Llama book and practicing with small scripts now after several months > slowly picking my way through the syntax I can read it and make > subroutines work and play with functions, manipulate context and regex's. > Coding is much smoother than in Bash and for the approx. 600 lines I have > just written Bash would have become too cumbersome. I really like the > warnings and use of strict pragma, the feedback has been understandable > and very decipherable for debugging. I also like the syntax, it's easy on > the eye, curly, and lends itself to readability and fits in well with my C > knowledge. I'll probably be the only one who says this, but I'm not a perl fan. As a replacement for something like bash, I think perl is a great thing. However for applications I hate perl! It is far to easy to write perl code that is impossible to read, and some of those magic perl tricks can make it even worse! There are so many nasty horrible things you can do with perl, and far to many people use them ;) (usually all of them at once if they possibly can!) I have had horrible experiences of trying to use, maintain and extend a very large testing system written entirely in perl, the thing was a nightmare. For a quick script, especially those requiring parsing of log files etc. perl is wonderful but I would never use perl to writing something that was important or large or intended to be maintained and expanded on in the future. I think perl is a good tool, just often mis-used for things where it really isn't the best tool for the job. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
Isaac Close wrote: > > its about half-eight and i've been coding all the night since about > half-eight lastnite. Long haul for me too, started coding Monday afternoon after reading all weekend, gallons of tea and coffee later (some sleep); first cut is the hardest as they say - time for some rest and recuperation before work Monday. > has its place and is most marvelous for what it can do, but Perl is still > a swiss army chainsaw. i wish browsers had perl interpreters in them :) swiss army chainsaw :) -- Damian L Brasher http://www.diap.org.uk - Quick and low-cost way to make an environment more robust by backing up data in multiple places. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Wed, October 15, 2008 14:04, Graham Bleach wrote: > 2008/10/15 Samuel Penn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: >> Javascript is fine for simple stuff, but for any large application >> I'd much rather have a strongly typed and compiled language, with >> good debugger and IDE support. > > And then persuade all the browsers to support it and wait five years > until the install coverage is high enough to actually use it ;-) Well, yeah, if you need to do client side browser stuff you pretty much have to use Javascript, but then you really should be sticking to simple stuff. I was more referring to using it on the server side (a number of server products we deal with make heavy use of Javascript for server side customisation) where it's used as a general-purpose language for large applications. -- Be seeing you,http://www.glendale.org.uk Sam. xmpp:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
2008/10/15 Samuel Penn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Javascript is fine for simple stuff, but for any large application > I'd much rather have a strongly typed and compiled language, with > good debugger and IDE support. And then persuade all the browsers to support it and wait five years until the install coverage is high enough to actually use it ;-) G -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 03:57:42 +0100, Damian Brasher wrote: > Llama is a must read though, now one of my favorite tech books of > all time, Schwart, Pheonix & foy actually managed to make me laugh a > few times just at the right time:) not sure who the funny one of the three is. Good book yes. If you've not already seen it then you might like: http://www.perlmonks.org/ > It's great so far - still new to me but have just finishing tapping out my > first reasonable sized app. Yep, sh, you guessed it > diap-alpha-dev-v0.1 in Perl at long last...bit br0ken in places but > written. :) Most of the sites I code are all written in Perl, using a combination of CGI::Application, and HTML::Template: http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?CGI::Application http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?HTML::Template Steve -- Managed Anti-Spam Service http://mail-scanning.com/ -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
On Wed, October 15, 2008 09:51, Victor Churchill wrote: > 2008/10/15 Isaac Close <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: >> >> its about half-eight and i've been coding all the night since about >> half-eight lastnite. not in Perl though, in javascript. its been >> event handlers and debugging largely. the more i learn of this language >> the more i see some similarity with Perl. have to say though, javascript >> has its place and is most marvelous for what it can do, but Perl is >> still a swiss army chainsaw. i wish browsers had perl interpreters in >> them :) > > I had one miserable experience long ago with JavaScript (*) - a fixed > price 3 month contract that took six months B-( Javascript is fine for simple stuff, but for any large application I'd much rather have a strongly typed and compiled language, with good debugger and IDE support. -- Be seeing you,http://www.glendale.org.uk Sam. xmpp:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
2008/10/15 Isaac Close <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > its about half-eight and i've been coding all the night since about > half-eight lastnite. not in Perl though, in javascript. its been > event handlers and debugging largely. the more i learn of this language > the more i see some similarity with Perl. have to say though, javascript has > its place and is most marvelous for what it can do, but Perl is still a swiss > army chainsaw. i wish browsers had perl interpreters in them :) I had one miserable experience long ago with JavaScript (*) - a fixed price 3 month contract that took six months B-( Been a happy bunny with Perl for years since then. Love it because it's such a fun language to work with, and it's quick, and you can just keep on learning new stuff about it. Like that mountain in a book by Rudy Rucker you can look back and see what a long way you have come, and still see what a huge edifice there is ahead of you B-) Oh, and the resource network behind Perl is second to none (IMO) (*) - well, DreamWeaver+JavaScript actually. And the client didn't know what he wanted. So not all JS's fault... -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
its about half-eight and i've been coding all the night since about half-eight lastnite. not in Perl though, in javascript. its been event handlers and debugging largely. the more i learn of this language the more i see some similarity with Perl. have to say though, javascript has its place and is most marvelous for what it can do, but Perl is still a swiss army chainsaw. i wish browsers had perl interpreters in them :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Why I like Perl
I have been using perl since 1994. My original attraction to it was the C type power but without as much complexity (arrays created and manipulated on the fly, easy file handling, text manipulation). As a Unix administrator I have perhaps used the korn shell more since then but perl is always the language that I somehow return to when the shell is not quite enough for the job at hand. Especially when the job at hand has started to grow too big for ksh. The reference book at that time was "Programming Perl" by Larry Wall and Randall L. Schwartz. The presentation in that early edition was humorous and easy to digest and is still a favourite techie book I would not discard despite being out of date (perl version 4). I particularly found amusing the idea of Job (as in the book of Job in the Bible) using perl to keep an inventory and output to a clay tablet printer (i.e. send output to /dev/ctp). Since then we have had an explosion of languages, each with their uses, strengths and weaknesses but somehow perl still has it's place among them. Probably because it has been so widely available on so many platforms for so long. Jon Wilks. 2008/10/15 Damian Brasher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Unearthly hour, > > The learning curve so far has been relatively steep, but once through the > Llama book and practicing with small scripts now after several months > slowly picking my way through the syntax I can read it and make > subroutines work and play with functions, manipulate context and regex's. > Coding is much smoother than in Bash and for the approx. 600 lines I have > just written Bash would have become too cumbersome. I really like the > warnings and use of strict pragma, the feedback has been understandable > and very decipherable for debugging. I also like the syntax, it's easy on > the eye, curly, and lends itself to readability and fits in well with my C > knowledge. Larry Wall is a clever chap! Llama is a must read though, now > one of my favorite tech books of all time, Schwart, Pheonix & foy actually > managed to make me laugh a few times just at the right time:) not sure who > the funny one of the three is. > > It's great so far - still new to me but have just finishing tapping out my > first reasonable sized app. Yep, sh, you guessed it > diap-alpha-dev-v0.1 in Perl at long last...bit br0ken in places but > written. > > Damian > -- > Damian L Brasher > http://www.diap.org.uk - Quick and low-cost way to make an environment > more robust by backing up data in multiple places. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk > Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire > LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk > -- > -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Why I like Perl
Unearthly hour, The learning curve so far has been relatively steep, but once through the Llama book and practicing with small scripts now after several months slowly picking my way through the syntax I can read it and make subroutines work and play with functions, manipulate context and regex's. Coding is much smoother than in Bash and for the approx. 600 lines I have just written Bash would have become too cumbersome. I really like the warnings and use of strict pragma, the feedback has been understandable and very decipherable for debugging. I also like the syntax, it's easy on the eye, curly, and lends itself to readability and fits in well with my C knowledge. Larry Wall is a clever chap! Llama is a must read though, now one of my favorite tech books of all time, Schwart, Pheonix & foy actually managed to make me laugh a few times just at the right time:) not sure who the funny one of the three is. It's great so far - still new to me but have just finishing tapping out my first reasonable sized app. Yep, sh, you guessed it diap-alpha-dev-v0.1 in Perl at long last...bit br0ken in places but written. Damian -- Damian L Brasher http://www.diap.org.uk - Quick and low-cost way to make an environment more robust by backing up data in multiple places. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
