Perl is a powerful interpreted programming language that has matured steadily since it first appeared in 1988. The first edition of this book, Programming Perl, hit the shelves in 1990, and was quickly adopted as the undisputed Bible of the language. Since then, Perl has grown with the times, and so has this book. Programming Perl provides a unique introduction to the Perl language and its culture, as you might expect only from its authors.
The “Programming Perl” is a book written by Larry Wall, Tom Christiansen, Jon Orwant and Brian d foy, and is considered to be the definitive guide to the Perl programming language. The book covers a range of topics, from basic syntax and data types to more advanced concepts like object-oriented programming and regular expressions. It also emphasizes the importance of writing clear, maintainable, and efficient code, and provides practical advice on how to achieve these goals. This edition of the book has been expanded to cover version 5.14 of Perl with a preview of features in the upcoming 5.16. New topics include:
- New keywords and syntax
- I/O layers and encodings
- New backslash escapes
- Unicode 6.0
- Unicode grapheme clusters and properties
- Named captures in regexes
- Recursive and grammatical patterns
- Expanded coverage of CPAN
- Current best practices
A major strength of Programming Perl is the way subject areas are approached from several directions. This constant shift of viewpoint eliminates blind spots in the reader’s understanding and provides a pleasing echo of the way Perl itself can take many routes from here to there. Because the Perl community is both knowledgeable and active, the language covers much more ground here than in the previous edition.
The book has five section starting with basics of Perl language, Language details, Perl Technology, Advance concepts and reference of the Perl Programming Language.
Section 1: Overview
The first section of Programming Perl is dedicated to helping readers get started with the language. The section begins with an overview of Perl’s history and its role in modern programming. Next, readers are introduced to Perl’s syntax and data types, as well as variables, operators, and control structures.
Section 2: The Gory Details
The second section delves deeper into the Perl language. This section covers more advanced topics such as regular expressions, subroutines, references, and file handling and pattern matching.
In addition, this section also provides readers with insights into how to write more efficient and maintainable Perl code, including how to use Perl’s debugging and profiling tools. It also covers best practices for writing portable Perl code that can run on different platforms.
Section 3: Perl as Technology
The third section of the book is devoted to Perl modules, which are pre-written packages of code that can be used to extend Perl’s functionality. This section covers how to install and use Perl modules, as well as how to create your own modules.
This section also provides practical guidance on how to choose the right Perl module for a given task, how to read and understand module documentation, and how to integrate modules into your Perl programs.
Section 4: Perl as Culture
This Programming Perl covers advanced Perl programming concepts. This section is intended for experienced Perl programmers who want to take their skills to the next level. It covers security and common practices.
Topics covered in this section include object-oriented programming with Perl, network programming, system administration with Perl, and advanced Perl programming techniques.
Section 5: Reference Material
This section covers references of Perl programming language such as Special Variables, Formats, Functions, The Standard Perl Library, Pragmatic Modules.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Programming Perl intended for?
Programming Perl is intended for anyone interested in learning or improving their programming skills with Perl. It is suitable for beginners who are new to programming and experienced programmers who want to learn more about Perl.
- Do I need any prior programming experience to read this book?
While prior programming experience is not required, it would be helpful to have some familiarity with basic programming concepts such as variables, data types, and control structures.
- Is Programming Perl a reference book or a tutorial book?
Programming Perl is both a reference and tutorial book. It provides a comprehensive overview of Perl’s syntax and features, while also demonstrating how to apply these concepts to real-world programming scenarios.
- How up-to-date is the information in Programming Perl?
Programming Perl was last updated in 2012 and covers Perl version 5.16. While some of the information may be outdated, the fundamental concepts and programming techniques covered in the book are still relevant today.
- Is Programming Perl suitable for self-study or is it better used as a classroom textbook?
Programming Perl is suitable for both self-study and classroom use. Its comprehensive coverage of the language, practical examples, and detailed explanations make it an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning Perl on their own or as part of a course.