Java is 'platform independant' because you don't compile a Java binary, you compile Java byte-code which is in turn interpretted by a Java virtual machine. Each platform has to have it's own virtual machine written for it.

Since Perl does not have to be compiled, it is somewhat 'platform independant' - a print is a print, whether you use ActiveState, MacPerl, or good ole /usr/bin/perl. But don't try to fork on Win32. ;)

I'm also a little hazy as to what constitutes a "platform"
According to whatis.com:

	A platform consists of an operating system, the computer
	system's coordinating program, and a microprocessor ...

An Intel processor with Windows98 could be considered a platform, as could a Sun box running Solaris. In short, a platform is the achtecture and the OS (or multiple OS's) together as one conceptual entity.

By that logic, Perl is not a platform. It is, IMHO, a high-level programming language. :)

cianoz: have you seen POE yet?

Jeff

L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L--
-R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR
F--F--F--F--F--F--F--F--
(the triplet paradiddle)