Part of my original reason for learning Perl had to do with the need to do some data extraction and analysis from satellite telemetry data streams. Perl was our standard language for doing satellite integration and testing and seemed like a good opportunity to do my tasks and, at the same time, afford the opportunity to integrate my tools with our integration and testing.

Data Munging with Perl seemed like a natural enough topic directly related to my problem so I got it as my second Perl book (my first, and the one I used to kickoff my Perl was Bioinformatics with Perl which is not one that I suggest for learning Perl...O'Reilly's Learning Perl would have been better for me). It was too advanced for that early few months, but has in retrospect been a wonderful and useful resource (perhaps much like Perl Cookbook is for you and has become for me, too) that I, too, highly recommend.

I think that delirium's recommendation is good and suggest that at this point in your learning Perl it is a definite recommendation that I, too, would offer.

I don't think it is as advanced (in terms of utility) as you worry and that you would find it most worthwhile.

Just my opinion, of course.

Thank you ack. It looks like I'll be reading Data Munging with Perl soon.

The work that got you involved in Perl sounds really fascinating. Are you still involved in the same projects? I would love to see more people post stories like yours in Meditations and their home nodes.

BTW : My wife and I love New Mexico. You live in a beautiful place. I'd like to visit again soon.

Luis



"...the adversities born of well-placed thoughts should be considered mercies rather than misfortunes." — Don Quixote