in reply to How has Perl affected you?

Ever since the Rexx days of OS2, I was looking for that perfect, easy to use, intuitive interface to my computer and the internet. Rexx died but along came Perl. I will think like a Perl5'er until I die, because Perl5 hits the nail right on the head, when it comes to making file processing, running programs, etc etc possible, because it has correct intuition in how to think like a computer running C. If I live long enough, I will be in the old Perl5'er's survivor's group, still answering questions on something I'm still familiar with.

My only lament, is that Perl5 and all the associated cpan stuff is not available on Android. :-(

I just think of the apps I could make with a simple Tk interface and network access.

But that is the greatest thing Perl has probably taught me, is that the computer industry is about making money and controlling all the software out there. Perl's TIMTOWTDI approach, dosn't sit well with their controlling nature.

And even with all the ballywho over how much easier Python is than Perl, I tried python and it's a bloody mess. Version 2.7 or 3.4 or 3.7 ..... oops your package manager dosn't match the Python version etc etc etc.

Perl just works. If you find the way. Like they say: It's the swiss army knife of computer toolkits.

I'm not really a human, but I play one on earth. ..... an animated JAPH

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Re^2: How has Perl affected you?
by shmem (Chancellor) on Aug 13, 2017 at 14:04 UTC
    My only lament, is that Perl5 and all the associated cpan stuff is not available on Android. :-(

    Of course it is. Just now I am running good ol' OpenWindows olvwm (SunOS-4.1.3) on my android device (an "old" Samsung Galaxy GT-I9300). Funny thing. Of course, xterm and shells and what not are also running, and so does perl and Tk. For now that is just done using the XSDL apk, which provides an X server. On my rooted Samsung S3, I unpacked a raspian distro into /data/root, mounted thereto as appropriate (/proc /sys /dev /dev/pts) and hey presto! my phone is a usable computer after chroot /data/root /bin/bash

    Of course that is just the beginning. Next step is to interface androids shared libraries, interface SurfaceFlinger as a first step, and then scrape all that Java stuff off my phone. I want it back! I've bought that device. I want to use it as it suits me, not as it suits the vendor/app-developer/no-such-agency and whatnot.

    Work in progress. A soon as I have a good recipe, I'll post that here on PerlMonks.

    perl -le'print map{pack c,($-++?1:13)+ord}split//,ESEL'
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      Yes! I'm so glad you are doing that. I'm looking forward to your post.
      I'm not really a human, but I play one on earth. ..... an animated JAPH
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Re^2: How has Perl affected you?
by stevieb (Canon) on Aug 12, 2017 at 22:41 UTC
    But that is the greatest thing Perl has probably taught me, is that the computer industry is about making money and controlling all the software out there. Perl's TIMTOWTDI approach, dosn't sit well with their controlling nature.

    I've read this reply, and BrowserUk's as well, and I was going to hold off replying to any for a few days until more feedback was generated. However, this bit me. I totally agree, and this is a huge one for me. Perl and its community had me learn the value of "sharing", and unless I'm restricted by licenses that I have to incorporate because I've used/included someone elses code, 100% of what I write is Open Source.

    I've always been a firm believer that knowledge should be freely shared and available, so when I came across this community, I felt that things fell right in place.

    So that's another thing it's done for me; opened my eyes to the fact that I wasn't the only one who loved learning from others while wanting to give out everything I was experienced/knowledgeable with.

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      Wow, I missed this thread when it came out and I am answering late, but what a great post! And also what a great thread, by the way. Thank you stevieb for initiating this discussion, and also many thanks to the others monks who contributed.

      I've always been a firm believer that knowledge should be freely shared and available
      I could not agree more.
      I wasn't the only one who loved learning from others while wanting to give out everything I was experienced/knowledgeable with.
      No, you're definitely not the only one, far from that.

      And I definitely count myself along those other ones sharing the same values. This is the reason, for example, why I wanted that my Perl 6 book be freely available on the Internet, and, moreover, open source with a very open Creative Commons license enabling people to copy it, modify it, and publish the modified version, if they want, despite the fact that it was being commercially published by O'Reilly.

      Thank you, stevieb, for these posts.

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        Thank you for the reply and the kind words! Thank you for leaving your book open as well... that's much appreciated dedication to the whole "free knowledge", and goes above and beyond at literally the cost of potential personal financial gain. Mucho kudos.

        Looking back at my post history (which I do from time-to-time), I recognized that every few years since I hit Friar level, I've put out "appreciation" type posts like this that elicit great feedback. This one was leading up to me being a subscribed member for eight years, and felt I was due for another.

        Here's to another eight years of who-knows-what will bring, but I do know that as long as Perl is still being active with an active community, I'll be a part of it no matter where I go and what I'm doing.

        Cheers,

        -stevieb

        ps. I haven't had the opportunity to read up the book yet, but I'm moving in a few days, and will be without any communications for almost a week, so thanks for the reminder. I'll scoop it up and read it then :)

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