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Re: Why is perl so frequently used for automation?
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Apr 16, 2012 at 10:48 UTC
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Because it is programmable; more powerful than batch/shell scripting; with a lower entry requirement and far lower development costs than C/C++/Java/other...
With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
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Re: Why is perl so frequently used for automation?
by GrandFather (Saint) on Apr 16, 2012 at 09:37 UTC
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A lot of automation tasks involve text processing which Perl is very good at. Perl can also be very quick to develop applications because of a very short development cycle, good testing tools a a language well adapted to rapid prototyping. Automation is an area where rapid changes are often required to the code with a requirement that the changes won't break stuff so Perl is a good candidate.
True laziness is hard work
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Re: Why is perl so frequently used for automation?
by marto (Cardinal) on Apr 16, 2012 at 09:34 UTC
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As previously discussed in the Chatterbox Perl interfaces well with many other services and applications and has many libraries to make such tasks easier available on CPAN.
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Re: Why is perl so frequently used for automation?
by roboticus (Chancellor) on Apr 16, 2012 at 14:19 UTC
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panda14:
I first encountered perl in the early 90's, but I didn't like it. As a programming language, I found it ugly, and I couldn't find a reason to start programming in it unless I was paid to do so. What turned me around? When I started automating things in *nix, I would use bash, and I find bash scripting obtuse and annoying. On Windows, I found batch files very limiting. So I first started using perl as a more portable batch/scripting language. Then CPAN started giving me gems like DBI, Spreadsheet::*Excel, and Net::FTP. So many jobs just got quite a bit easier.
Right now, I can do many tasks pretty quickly in Perl that would take longer in a different language. So for one-off jobs, Perl is usually the first thing I reach for. Our company doesn't use a whole lot of perl (only on the Linux boxes, AFAIK, but I don't get to do any Linux stuff here). On the Windows boxes, I have to settle for Java or C#. But on my desktop machine, I primarily use Perl for testing, data analysis, etc.
...roboticus
When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.
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Re: Why is perl so frequently used for automation?
by locked_user sundialsvc4 (Abbot) on Apr 16, 2012 at 15:13 UTC
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The real strength of Perl (IMHO) is the CPAN library. I saw this quite recently when briefly engaged at A Particularly Popular Legendary Eenterprise (that ought to have known better) when it rather rudely and inconveniently discovered that the Ruby Gems were nowhere as complete, and nowhere as debugged, as they had assumed based on their prior experiences with Perl. (“Not Implemented Yet” is not what you ever want to see in your debugging output.) It definitely caught some folks off-guard, and it surprised me too.
(I am not intending to put forth a “language vs. language” tirade here; nothing of the sort. But we depend, utterly and completely, on the quality of our tools ... and the contributed libraries are a fundamental part of that.)
The Perl (5.x) language is functional, well-implemented, has a thoughtfully selected set of features, and bottom-line “it moves the freight.” It has the features that you really need it to have, and, thanks to CPAN, they are generally rugged and dependable ... having passed hundreds if not thousands of self-tests, on your system, while being installed there.
u
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Re: Why is perl so frequently used for automation?
by Anonymous Monk on Apr 16, 2012 at 23:58 UTC
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Because when you put Perl in the ring to fight, it knocks out the competition. Literally. I've seen Perl KO other languages in less than 2 seconds.
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Re: Why is perl so frequently used for automation?
by JavaFan (Canon) on Apr 16, 2012 at 09:38 UTC
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Why is perl so frequently used for automation?
Is it? I thought the meme of the last dozen or so years was "Perl is dead". It will depend on who you ask. Some will say Perl is used more often that it should -- others will say it's hard from them to find a Perl job, and that hence, Perl isn't used frequently enough (of course, the reason why they can't find a job maybe unrelated to how often Perl is used).
But how many big companies are there that do a significantly amount of their IT business in Perl? I don't think there are many. Let's multiply the revenue of a company with the fraction of their IT work done in Perl (to not have the amounts dwindle to nothing, only consider their in-house produce, and what was tailor made externally). For how many companies will this product reach 1 billion USD/year? Not many, I'm afraid.
Why is perl so effective in automation?
Is it? I think Perl works well in some cases. It works less in others. It would be hard to come up with a scenario where Perl would be the clear winner against other solutions.
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