I've stuck with Perl for many reasons, but this week I've been very glad that I can write crappy, dirty scripts that get a job done, then move on with life. I usually like to code to nice standards, but sometimes I just don't feel like trying that hard, but need to get something done quickly. I can create a grand mess of Perl code with poor formatting, haphazard variable names (no strict!) and all sorts of other things we tell people not to do, and 5 minutes later I have the problem solved and never see the script again.

A lot of people create programs that they use over and over again, and that's something else. In another part of the universe is getting data from one place to the other, and all I really want is the quick fix without getting out the full force of an IDE, makefile, and so on. Sometimes I don't even want a separate file and just throw in a __END__ and put the script right above it. Perl can be the ugly, spitting camel that can get across the desert, and I'm thankful for that. :)

Ask me next week and I'll have some other answer and deny I ever said any of this.