Re: How is Perl for automation?

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Re^2: How is Perl for automation? by GrandFather (Saint) on Dec 02, 2020 at 22:08 UTC
For most purposes individual languages are less important than experience. Most competent programmers can pick up and be productive in a language they haven't previously used fairly quickly. So in a way it doesn't matter if it is Perl, Python, Ruby or a slew of other languages. As a practical thing you are likely to get much better support learning Perl here than learning any other language anywhere else, and in the long run that may be the most important criteria for picking your next language. Optimising for fewest key strokes only makes sense transmitting to Pluto or beyond	[reply]
Re^3: How is Perl for automation? by fidodido (Sexton) on Dec 02, 2020 at 22:29 UTC
Judging by the speed and quality of answers I see here, I fully agree. Thank you Sir.	[reply]
Re^2: How is Perl for automation? by hippo (Archbishop) on Dec 02, 2020 at 22:09 UTC
From what the internet seems to tellnme, Perl is not that in demand You must be on some other internet. Mine says this. Also, any book you could suggest? Loads here - take your pick! Perhaps Automating System Administration With Perl might be a good option, once you have picked up the basics. 🦛	[reply]
Re^3: How is Perl for automation? by fidodido (Sexton) on Dec 02, 2020 at 22:24 UTC
Man....that's some eye opener. Thanks.	[reply]
Re^3: How is Perl for automation? by fidodido (Sexton) on Dec 02, 2020 at 22:32 UTC
Sorry for the multi posting but, I had to say this....so if Im to believe the graph, then Perl being "dead" or "not in demand" or "disliked" is just FUD. Thanks again.	[reply]
Re^4: How is Perl for automation? by hippo (Archbishop) on Dec 02, 2020 at 23:19 UTC
The one unequivocal conclusion is that anyone saying that Perl is "not in demand" is clearly as wrong as it is possible to be. Being "dead" is somewhat more arbitrary and I'm not sure how you could come up with a solid quantitative measure. However, metacpan maintains a list of recent module releases which shows double-digit numbers every day. That isn't what I would expect to see with a "dead" language. That only leaves "disliked", which is probably the most subjective and arbitrary of all. Quantifying that would be a fool's errand. The only way to really tell if you dislike a language is to try it. That's how I know I dislike Java. And PHP. 🦛	[reply]
Re^5: How is Perl for automation? by fidodido (Sexton) on Dec 03, 2020 at 10:36 UTC
Re^2: How is Perl for automation? by eyepopslikeamosquito (Archbishop) on Dec 02, 2020 at 22:05 UTC
Re Job prospects and comparing Perl to other languages, I keep a list of similar nodes here (see especially the "Recent Nodes (2020)" section at the end).	[reply]
Re^2: How is Perl for automation? by eyepopslikeamosquito (Archbishop) on Dec 02, 2020 at 22:20 UTC
Also, any book you could suggest? I also keep links on Learning Perl and Perl books at Re: Online Tutorial To Get Started (Learning Perl References) (see list of Perl books at the end)	[reply]
Re^2: How is Perl for automation? by Bod (Parson) on Dec 02, 2020 at 21:32 UTC
what about the job prospects? I cannot give you a direct answer as I left employment over 15 years ago and have worked for myself ever since - I am now unemployable and that's the way it will stay... What I would say is that Perl is so much more than just a scripting language. It is very capable at scripting but can be used to create standalone Windows applications with the TK modules or distributed client/server systems and everything in between. Learning Perl opens up many, many possibilities and makes learning other languages easier in future. Perhaps a jobs site might give you an indication of the demand...	[reply]