Hi all,

To answer your fundamental question, inkedmn, I'd have to say that learning Perl is a great way to learn programming. I programmed C/C++ for years, but never felt I understood it until I picked up Perl.

As for ways to learn, personally, I do not like any of O'Reilly's Perl books - at least not the three or four I've looked at. My personal favorite is the Coriolis Open Press book, Perl Black Book by Steven Holzner. Good stuff - easy, almost conversational reading and goes quite in depth on most topics a newbie is interested in.

Good luck,
{NULE}