http://qs1969.pair.com?node_id=195485

Well, I've done it. Today is my 1-year anniversary of being a participant, voodoo doll, and pincushion at Perl Monks. I survived thus far, and I've gained quite a lot of experience (personal and professional, and not only in XP).

In the past year, I've come into perl basically green, with regard to the non-sysadmin uses of perl. I've been using perl for quite some time, if only to simplify my administration tasks. Recently though, I've been trying to mature my skills in the areas of parsing data structures, digesting HTML and web-delivered content, and returning results of larger types of data mulched by perl. To assist in my learning curve, I've electively been building a somewhat medium-sized content management system and portal for data destined for Palm handheld devices.

While sitting in the Chatterbox off and on, I've watched many conversations go back and forth from all levels of users. Early on, most of them were above my head, but like usenet, I learned to listen for awhile first, before I opened my mouth, fearing having to put my own foot back in it. As time went on, I learned that I actually had some knowledge, and could help others who may not know as much perl, with some of their problems.

Many people have helped me along my personal path to learning perl, improving my style, refining my syntax, and teaching me how to look at problems and problem solving in many different ways. I won't hide the fact that I've really angered some people with my pompous attitude, or my ignorance on one thing or another. To those, I wish to say that I'm sorry, nothing personal. I've been trying to learn, and when I encounter a problem I can't find a solution to, slamming the door in my face puts me on the defensive.

I've learned that there are many other resources to finding answers to problems, searching for modules, and seeing how other people approach similar issues with their code. Many times I go to perlmonks first, before I use perldoc. I'm eternally grateful that a resource as rich as perlmonks exists for people like myself, and for everyone above and below my current skill level. There are other resources, such as #perl on the various irc networks (with varying degrees of helpfulness), but the wealth of information and users fighting similar problems on perlmonks is truly a valuable alternative to irc.

There are other monks here who have been consistantly helpful, and very patient with me during my growth. These people have helped me in priceless ways look not only at my code, but at myself. Why do I approach a particular problem the way I do? Why do I run into so many issues? I blame perl less now, and myself more.

I would like to personally thank several monks here for their help along this journey to perl enlightenment (in no particular order):

..and dozens of others (ferrency, bart, Zaxo, ChemBoy, atcroft, etc.) who have helped in one way or another.

I realize that I have quite a ways to go before I can attain the level of quality code that many top-rated monks produce, and I look forward to the next coming years with anticipation to help speed me along that path.

Thanks to everyone who has helped thus far, and thank you for providing an avenue for me to learn and improve and grow my skills, not only in perl, in such a rapid and interactive fashion.

Every time I open a new door with perl, it leads to a hallway of other doors.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: A year at Perl Monks
by merlyn (Sage) on Sep 05, 2002 at 19:59 UTC
    merlyn for providing countless articles on Stonehenge and in TPJ that helped me along this path
    I appreciate the compliment. But there seems to be this persistent bad meme that I've written for TPJ. To set the record straight, I've never written for TPJ in my life. I've written over 150 magazine articles, and continue to write 3 articles every two months, making me the world's most prolific Perl author. But I never wrote for TPJ.

    -- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker

      The quantity of articles you have written for TPC was countless in the Western world for centuries...

      Just because TPJ failed does not mean you have to deny writting for them.

      It is ok. It was a good magazine once.

      :-pppppppp

      It is funny what people will belive. You can send out a memo stating simply "As to the rumors, *insert name* is not pregnant" and she will get several people asking her if she is.

      How I know this? Ahhh just guessing! ;-)