What book should I use for learning Perl?

mouood has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: What book should I use for learning Perl? by dragonchild (Archbishop) on Aug 03, 2001 at 00:39 UTC
Buy O'Reilly's book "Learning Perl on Win32". ActivePerl doesn't really make a distinction between WinNT and Win2000, as both are Win32 systems. Nearly all the modules written for Windows are Win32 modules, meant to be used on both Win2000 and WinNT, as well as Win98 and WinXP (I think). Once you've mastered a few things, I'd purchase Programming Perl and Advanced Perl Programming, if you plan on programming Perl seriously. Otherwise, the first book is plenty. Also, don't be afraid to ask any questions you have here. We don't bite (much). (I'd use Seekers of Perl Wisdom instead of Discussion. The latter is for discussion of PerlMonks itself.) Good luck, and Welcome! :) ------ /me wants to be the brightest bulb in the chandelier!	[reply]
Re: What book should I use for learning Perl? by Siddartha (Curate) on Aug 03, 2001 at 12:47 UTC
If you are seriously looking into Perl, the Perl CD bookshelf is deffinitely something to look at. Version 1 of the CD Bookshelf includes Learning Perl on Win32, Perl in a Nutshell, Learning Perl, Programming Perl, Advanced Perl Programming and the Perl Cookbook. It also includes a hardcopy of Perl in a Nutshell. This is the only Perl resource I have (except for Perlmonks of course), and I still haven't gone through everything. The new version 2 edition includes: third edition of Programming Perl, Perl for System Administration Perl in a Nutshell, Perl Cookbook, and Advanced Perl Programming, along with a hardcopy of Perl in a Nutshell. If you specifically want Learning Perl on Win32, try to get version 1 somewhere. It is really easy to search for stuff on the CD (on Windows, Mac or Unix), with HTML interfaces to all the content. Hope this helps -Siddartha	[reply]
Re: Re: What book should I use for learning Perl? by Hofmator (Curate) on Aug 03, 2001 at 15:34 UTC
If you specifically want Learning Perl on Win32, try to get version 1 somewhere I think I would always go for the (new) 2nd version of the Bookshelf, first because it contains material describing perl 5.6 - and that's probably what you want to use in the future. Second I think the selection of books is better from a long term point of view. So if you specificaly want Learning Perl on Win32 then buy it (or have a look in your local library) and if you are serious about looking into Perl, then the bookshelf CD, version 2 is the way to go. -- Hofmator	[reply]
Re: Book by petdance (Parson) on Aug 03, 2001 at 00:52 UTC
What were the two Perl books that you bought already? And what don't you like about them? Also, please note that "NT" is indeed "Windows". Do you mean Windows 95? xoxo, Andy -- <megaphone> Throw down the gun and tiara and come out of the float! </megaphone>	[reply]
Re: What book should I use for learning Perl? by shotgunefx (Parson) on Aug 03, 2001 at 02:45 UTC
My two cents? 1st book. Learning Perl on Win32 by O'Reilly 2nd book. Perl Cookbook by O'Reilly -Lee "To be civilized is to deny one's nature."	[reply]
Re: What book should I use for learning Perl? by tshabet (Beadle) on Aug 03, 2001 at 01:16 UTC
Hi mouood, As a fellow newbie who started his programming career with html, I'd say that in terms of my first baby steps in perl, the tutorial offered on this site was the most useful resource of all. The explanations are sometimes a bit short, but for a guy like me who learns new languages best by looking at code and poking at it, the exercises and answers were really valuable for getting a basic hold on perl. Are you implying that you need to be smart to use Unix? HAHAHA, I am tshabet, the living proof that you are wrong. Take a swing at it, it's easier than you might think. As for books, the above mentioned sound like good suggestions to me. Good luck!	[reply]
Re: What book should I use for learning Perl? by Beatnik (Parson) on Aug 03, 2001 at 16:22 UTC
I'd check Outside Links which has a section on Perl books, there's also Book Reviews ofcourse. Greetz Beatnik ... Quidquid perl dictum sit, altum viditur.	[reply]


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