•Re: Re: Good Textbook for Teaching Perl?

especially for those without a fair amount of UNIX and C background

Hmm. Are you basing this on earlier editions of Learning Perl? We worked very hard to eliminate Unix-isms and the "like C" phrases completely out of the third edition. I would definitely agree with you about earlier editions, as well.

-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker
Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply.

Comment on •Re: Re: Good Textbook for Teaching Perl?

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Re: •Re: Re: Good Textbook for Teaching Perl? by MrCromeDome (Deacon) on Apr 09, 2003 at 15:59 UTC
I think you did a pretty good job at doing so. I remember a small number of places where you mention how Perl derives feature X from Unix, and I don't think I can remember any spots beyond the first section or two where any C-like references are made. I haven't picked up Learning Perl for Win32 Systems (so I have to ask this in ignorance), but why the need for two books? I think your Learning Perl book serves equally well on both platforms. Is it for people who cannot think outside of the Windows box, or are there other aspects to the book to make it easier for people who only use Windows? MrCromeDome	[reply]
•Re: Re: •Re: Re: Good Textbook for Teaching Perl? by merlyn (Sage) on Apr 09, 2003 at 16:18 UTC
I intended to make the Gecko book obsolete, incorporating all of its features into the third edition of the Llama, and I believe I have succeeded in that. Llama 3rd edition is practically platform neutral, and the oddities of the ancient ActiveState Perl have been eliminated because all versions now build from one source. However, I'm not in charge at O'Reilly. They appear to be unwilling to cancel a stale book that still has a (mis)percieved need (as in, it's still selling many copies), and I can see their reason for that, so I'm not fighting it. (The extra $200 or so a month I make from it probably influences my decision there. {grin}) -- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply.	[reply]
Re: •Re: Re: Good Textbook for Teaching Perl? by Your Mother (Archbishop) on May 10, 2003 at 00:35 UTC
Sorry took so long to reread these. You are correct. The one I own is not the current edition which I've never had a look at. So the new version might be a better choice for non-programmers to start with. I'll give it a look again if I ever follow through with my threat to quit my current job and start a small Perl training lab. :)	[reply]