Introduction to Perl

What is Perl?

Perl was originally developed with an emphasis on system management and text handling. However, as it was revised, other features were included such as regular expressions, signals and network sockets. If you have programming experience in any language, you can easily learn Perl.

Advantages of Perl

1. One of the nicest thing about Perl is that you can add extensions to the core package. This allows you to access databases and user interface systems and perform other things.
2. It is available in many platforms. This means that if you coded a program on one platform, you will have a high probability that you can run it on another platform. This means savings in terms of time and also money.
3. Since most cgi scripts use perl, you have a lot of resources available - both on the internet or in books.
4. Last but not the least, you get a powerful programming language at little or no cost! If you have an internet connection already, you can download it directly from the perl website (http://www.perl.com)

Where can I get Perl?

You can download the source and compile it. Warning!!! Do this only if you are familiar with the compile process or if you want an exercise in using your compiler. 

If you are using Linux, your distribution probably comes with Perl already installed. To see if Perl is installed, start a console if you are in a Window manager. Type this:

perl -v

• If Perl is installed, it will respond with a message similar to this:

• If you are using Windows  (yes, Perl has a Windows port also), you have two places to download the Perl binaries:

• ActivePerl from ActiveState

• IndigoPerl from IndigoStar

• Beginning Perl: Ten Perl Myths

• Perl FAQS

This is perl 5, version 14, subversion 2 (v5.14.2) built for x86_64-linux-gnu-thread-multi (with 65 registered patches, see perl -V for more detail)

Copyright 1987-2011, Larry Wall

Perl may be copied only under the terms of either the Artistic License or the GNU General Public License, which may be found in the Perl 5 source kit.

Both of them come with their own package manager but IndigoPerl comes with a ready to use Apache web server.

For other distributions, you can check this out at

http://www.perl.com/CPAN-local/ports/ind...

If you want more introductory information about Perl, check these sites: