Python and Perl are both scripting languages. Perl doesn't have "You must indent your code like this." rules, and it does have an awesome resource called MetaCPAN, with libraries (we call them modules) to help you get your job done, no matter what it is.

And, of course, Perl has this awesome site to help you out with years of lively discussion about all manner of Perl topics.

Welcome!

" Perl has this awesome site to help you out with years of lively discussion about all manner of Perl topics."

...and even some non-Perl topics from time-to-time, but we don't allow bashing of other languages, except for me, because I code in Python as part of my job (and have for ~1.5 years), so I'm allowed. Perl is better :)

Perl resembles C quite a bit, with it's braces and semi-colon line endings, so it's quite familiar to those who code in many other languages. Python, on the other hand, forces you to learn a whole different way to write code, and absolutely forces you to obey it's idea of what a good layout is.

I have been meaning to look at Python for some time now, but I've had plenty of other things to do. I find Python's enforced formatting a little irritating, but I should just put that aside and try the language out -- it's just a long way down my list of cool things to try out.

I finally did some PHP for $work[-2] about eighteen months ago -- it was an authentication plugin for Roundcube -- and it was fine. I spent some time during that project looking stuff up in the PHP documentation, but apart from that, it was web development as usual -- no biggie.

Alex / talexb / Toronto

Thanks PJ. We owe you so much. Groklaw -- RIP -- 2003 to 2013.

A contrast that is often made is more to do with attitude and approach than language differences: Perl embraces diverse approaches to solving problems with no single favored technique (TIMTOWTDI) where Python embraces "The one true way".

Perl is very rich with a lot of stuff built into the language where Python depends more on external libraries to provide the same functionality. There is a system Perl on pretty much every version of *nix (OS X is a version of *nix under the hood) whereas Python generally has to be installed. Neither language is installed by default on Windows.

Python is used a lot in physical sciences contexts and for controlling hardware. Perl is used a lot in Biological sciences contexts and for file processing. Perl used also to be the language that ran the web and still does to a modest extent.

I would like to know how much like python is it?

To a non-speaker of either, Spanish & Portuguese look and sound vaguely similar -- both evolving from vulgar Latin roots in Iberia -- but to the native speakers of either, the other is quite, quite different.

Ditto for Perl & Python, they share similar roots; but they are quite different in their details and philosophies.

Well, they both begin with "p", but Perl is *way* better.

Hi

Different languages suit different people differently. Some prefer Perl, some C, some PHP and some Python, you have to try them all to find your personal favourite.

One thing to remember, the more languages you can use, the fewer times you have to say no when someone offers you money.

I like that.

J.C.