If you haven't already, learn DBI. It's kind of a cliche, but create a catalogue system for your DVDs. Set up MySQL, install the modules you'll need to interact with it, design the structure of your tables and write code to read from and write to your database. Once this is working, you can write a web front end for the system in PHP (although I'd go with mod_perl ;). | [reply] |
Many thanks.
So that's just MySQL and PHP, no Perl involved?
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Not at all... Write a command line ( or curses) perl interface first. As I mentioned, you could also do a mod_perl web interface instead of php. You could do a tk interface once you get more comfortable too...
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My personal fancy goes toward puzzles and numbers.
I've got a copy of Primes and Programming by Peter Giblin, Cambridge University Press, 1993, which let me play with Perl and Number Theory in several small projects, which built on each other.
There are numerous puzzles and contests gone by which you can make your own attempt. To get you started:
&bull MJD's Quiz of the Week
&bull ICFPC past contests
There are many others. You should look for problems that interest you, or might be useful in your future "serious" projects.
-QM
--
Quantum Mechanics: The dreams stuff is made of
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This is probably what you are looking for. | [reply] |
My personal favorites (especially for those with Pen and Paper RPG habits) involve making utilities to calculate the crunchy bits of game mechanics. RPGs like GURPS and D&D work well.
It makes things fun, and you can have your fellow nerdy gamers act as your testing pool.
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I would suggest looking around your work environment for ways to automate processes that are consuming a lot of man hours. I work in an engineering environment and have found many uses for perl including automating tasks that engineers were spending a lot of time on.
Be creative! Not only is it fun but you may find yourself getting a nice raise or promotion also. | [reply] |