andythegr8 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi, I work for a software company and I'm being assigned to write Perl scripts to a access Db2 databases and manipulate information and whole lot of stuff to play with data. I have only little experience with Perl and Db2 but I know sql.I am a good C/C++ programmer with good Unix skills. I have to respond to my supervisor in less than 2 hours from now to let him know whether I will be able to work on the project right away. Can you tell me how much time is required to pick up Perl with Db2 skills when I have to start working on big project immediately. Should I say yes, I will be able to do it? Andy

20040115 Edit by castaway: Changed title from 'Life and Death question!!! Please help me asap'

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Acquiring Perl/DB2 skills
by borisz (Canon) on Jan 15, 2004 at 00:22 UTC
    Hi, if you know sql and you know a little perl then do it. And read how to use DBD::DB2 and DBI.
    Boris
[reply]
Re: Acquiring Perl/DB2 skills
by antirice (Priest) on Jan 15, 2004 at 00:34 UTC
    Title: Life and Death question!!! Please help me asap

    As everyone knows, the blue wire.

    As for the other matter, how soon do they want the project completed?

    antirice    
    The first rule of Perl club is - use Perl
    The     ith rule of Perl club is - follow rule i - 1 for i > 1

[reply]
      its a 4 week project...where I need to go on the client site and get things done. And I have to work things out to get the stuff completed as my company doesn't have any Perl programmers available right now and they would like me to do this.
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        You won't know the full meaning of everything that you are doing, but you will be able to get it done, me thinks. Please, please, please "steal" some "template" code from this site and tweak it to your task.

        Good luck

        ,welchavw

[reply]
        I have to work things out to get the stuff completed as my company doesn't have any Perl programmers available right now and they would like me to do this.

        Plan to spend thirty minutes a day on Perlmonks, then. Also wouldn't hurt to get a copy of the camel book, or at least grab it from the public library. Four weeks is definitely more than enough time to learn the basics of Perl, but since you're *also* doing a project in that time, you might need to put in a little reading/learning time outside of work hours, if possible. (Knowing Perl, however, will prove so invaluable that you'll not regret spending this time.) 

        $;=sub{$/};@;=map{my($a,$b)=($_,$;);$;=sub{$a.$b->()}}
split//,".rekcah lreP rehtona tsuJ";$\=$ ;->();print$/

        [download]
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[d/l]
Re: Acquiring Perl/DB2 skills
by Roger (Parson) on Jan 15, 2004 at 00:28 UTC
    Spend a day or two at Perl Monks, do a few tutorials will probably be enough to start programming in Perl, since you already know C/C++, perl is not that different from them.

    It does take a little while to aquire good Perl programming skills, but the Perl Monastery is always here to help you. Post your questions here and we are happy to answer them ;-).

[reply]
      since you already know C/C++, perl is not that different from them

      Actually, most of the apparent similarities between Perl and C are deceptive superficial similarities that hide large gotchas. Aside from basic syntax, Perl is actually much more like lisp than it is like C. 

      $;=sub{$/};@;=map{my($a,$b)=($_,$;);$;=sub{$a.$b->()}}
split//,".rekcah lreP rehtona tsuJ";$\=$ ;->();print$/

      [download]
[reply]
[d/l]
        But the "superficial similarities" will certainly help OP to write his first Perl program. I think OP needs a bit of assurance and encouragement at this stage. It's not that important for technical correctness yet.

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