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

Hi fellow monks there,

I use primarily R for data analysis.
But I am fascinated by perl language. I know basics of perl by self learning from internet.
I want to know how can I load stata and csv data in perl, and view it.
And finally analyse it.
As I am newbie could you please show me step by step of loading and viewing data in perl.

And lastly can you and your other members of the team make a course on MOOC platform like coursera, udacity, edX about real world data analysis with PDL and PDL::Stats with examples.
Such course will be warmly welcomed by all of the community and also helps attarct new programmers towards this language.

The language popularity much depends on interactive learning resources. As a perl lover I am devastated by the degrading popuarity of perl while python is rising.

Thanks
Suman

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: About reading stata and csv data file
by davido (Cardinal) on Mar 01, 2014 at 17:01 UTC

    I get it; you love Perl, are fascinated by the language, cheer for its success, and feel it should have more tutorials.

    You're also interested in learning how to deal with CSV and STATA data. You're familiar with PDL and PDL::Stats, so you also know about CPAN.

    I'm a little bewildered why you haven't used http://search.cpan.org to discover Text::CSV and Parse::Stata::DtaReader. They both come with decent documentation, and the modules' authors wrote the documentation for the purpose of assisting users in learning to utilize these tools.

    The Perl community, like most informal programming communities, relies on every day users, like yourself, for producing tutorials in the specific areas of their own interest. I suggest you read the documentation on those modules, search, research, practice, try, and learn. Once you've become comfortable with the problem domain, contribute that tutorial yourself.

    If I were to write a tutorial for you, that's what I would have to do; read, search, research, practice, try, and learn... then contribute. But in the end I would have learned more in producing a tutorial than you would learn reading it. Don't deprive yourself the opportunity to maximize your own learning. If it interests you, and you are willing to put in the work to learn, then you will qualify yourself to contribute a tutorial. That's how people "give back" in the Perl community.


    Dave

Re: About reading stata and csv data file
by ww (Archbishop) on Mar 01, 2014 at 16:51 UTC
    Your impression of the Monks' capabilities may exceed the realities:

    However, re "...how can I load stata and csv data in perl...."
        for info on "csv" CPAN which offers a wealth of tools to do the job. Their docs (mostly) include plenty of illustative material to satisfy that part of your request.
        Regretably, all I know about "stata" came from a similar search (which suggests there are numerous flavors/formats/APIs -- not knowing the details, I doubt anyone can help much).

    "...could you please show me step by step of loading and viewing data in perl."
        That's not quite the way it works here. You show us, with code, error and warning messages, and narrative, where you got stuck and why that outcome is unsatisfactory, and we'll help you fix your problem. But, at least in theory and in accord with such doctrinal documents as On asking for help and How do I post a question effectively?, we're supposed to allow you the opportunity to learn. Your question implies that you've managed considerable, self-directed learning... so carry on, and come back with a specific issue(s).

    This site is tantamount to the "MOOC platform" you're asking be created.

    The volunteers, which is to say, 'the Monks,' -- that's all of us here (the headcount of the paid staff is nil, nul, zero, $0); -- generally have existing jobs, families to support, additional obligations and/or other demands on our time.

    What's more, your friends at Google will be happy to tell you about many, university level courses, related to Perl... and some of them (perhaps) specific to the topics you list.

    So, creating a (redundant) MOOC is left to you, as a challenge for the day when you've resolved your current problem.

    Come, let us reason together: Spirit of the Monastery
Re: About reading stata and csv data file
by hdb (Monsignor) on Mar 02, 2014 at 08:10 UTC