Um, Learning Perl explicitly assumes that you know how to program and so doesn't try very hard to teach basic programming practice. At least that was the case with earlier editions.

I'd suggest something aimed at beginning programmers like Beginning Perl. At least it is available for free, and it includes a chapter on how to write CGI programs. (Using CGI.pm's methods rather than a template system, but it is still likely to give some helpful ideas.)

Of course if you wanted to be nasty, then you could recommend starting with Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. (For those who don't know it, this is an excellent book. It is available online but I recommend buying a copy, reading it, and re-reading it every few years. I'm getting due to re-read it again. That said, it is pitched at a fairly high level, and for most people will push them to completely rethink how they think about programming.)

The book that I really wish I could get lots of people to read is Code Complete 2. Of course they never will since it is a big fat book with tons of important detail. But all of that detail is valuable knowledge that programmers really should know on some level. (Preferably you want it integrated into their bones so they just do it naturally. Hey, if I'm going to dream...)

In reply to Re^3: Perl/Html Question - rows are not aligned between different columns by tilly
in thread Perl/Html Question - rows are not aligned between different columns by Anonymous Monk

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