Well, the only problem for memory in Perl, is the variables, that are always string based, using more memory than typed languages. But if you always use my, and separate your code in subs, to not write again the same part (yes exist peoples that do this), Perl will manage the mamory and clean what is not used.

O good thing of Perl is that it has an memory area for the variables. And it cleans this are to can be used for new variables. C doesn't do this very well automatically, but is possible (since Perl is writed in C).

But a good thing exist in Perl to force the use of my: use strict ;-P

About the other laguage, Java, that is suposed to be a good language. Well, Java in theory is good, but in pratic not. First, is very slow (even the Java version from SUN). Second, the classes are not very well structured, and is a big problem, since every thing comes from a class. Second, the bytecode of .class, that is suposed to make the load faster, isn't! The JVM remake the bytecode for the JVM (OS) in use, and than run. The class bytecode is only a ugly way to try to hide the source (but every one can get a Java-DesAssembler). And I don't know why it's os slow!!! It's a typed language, should to be faster than Perl (but Perl is very well coded, and exist since 87)! The documentation of the classes is a mess too. I think that Java has a lot of things to learn with Perl, they don't copy (more) use because they don't want.

For me, Java is a film with a good script, but with a bad shot. The objective of a language of 6th level (Java is 6, Perl is 15. see: http://www.theadvisors.com/langcomparison.htm) is to develope code faster and have a better product, since we have more time to make better things, and will be better to fix it. In other words, you can't forgot the final objective!

Graciliano M. P.
"The creativity is the expression of the liberty".