cosmicperl has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi All,
  I'm trying to outline levels of Perl programmers. From those humble beings that are only able to install and use Perl scripts, all the way up to those like Nicholas Clark that work on the core.

I've started the list, but before I go further I'd like input from the monks as everyone's experiences and opinions of Perl people are different.

List so far:-
User - Those that are capable of installing and running Perl scripts. (They know path to perl, permissions, uploading in ASCII, variables, config, etc)
Basic Debugger - Those that are capable of reading and fixing problems with Perl scripts so that they may run. (Understanding common Perl error messages and how to correct them)
Basic Coder - Those that are capable of writing basic scripts. (Using scalars, arrays, hashs, reading from writing to files. Understanding and being able to use the common built in Perl functions)
...
..
.
Core programmer In depth knowledge of Perl, internals, C...

I'd very much appreciate ideas and names you'd give to the coders in between and what you'd expect them to be capable of.


Lyle

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Outlining levels of Perl People
by Lawliet (Curate) on Aug 31, 2008 at 03:34 UTC

    I remember something like this a while ago. It was interesting to read and very true. I cannot find it again though. It went something like:

    1. Beginner - Spells Perl: PERL. Is confused as to why variables have 
+certain characters in front of them.
2. User - Understands why it is spelled Perl. Writes basic Perl games 
+such as hangman. Does not see why he needs to comment code
3. Advanced User - Throughly comments his code. Does not understand th
+e greatness that is CPAN.
4. Hacker - Writes his own CPAN modules. Does not like the shift towar
+ds Perl 6.
5. Guru - On the development team of Perl 5 and 6.
6. Larry Wall - 'Nuff said.

    [download]

    That is horribly flawed and inaccurate but I hope someone knows and can provide a link to what I mentioned previously.

    Update: Found the link. T'was from YAPC 2000.

    Update2 Guess I should have given a description of the link (deduced from the fact that anonny below me posted the same link I did. Too late now.)

    I'm so adjective, I verb nouns!

    chomp; # nom nom nom
[reply]
[d/l]
Re: Outlining levels of Perl People
by Anonymous Monk on Aug 31, 2008 at 08:02 UTC
    Stages of a Perl Programmer. Tom Christiansen posted an excellent analysis of the 7 stages that Perl programmers go through. This 3-hour tutorial discusses the stages, explaining what you need to know to progress to the next level. Presented in 2000.
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Re: Outlining levels of Perl People
by kyle (Abbot) on Aug 31, 2008 at 18:04 UTC

    Just wondering, what's the purpose of this list (if any)?

[reply]
      All will be revealed in due course :)
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Re: Outlining levels of Perl People
by Lawliet (Curate) on Sep 13, 2008 at 18:33 UTC

    Hmm, after reading the list on PerlCert, I would like to say that the levels of a Perl programmer are not so linear. It is more of a tree.

    Some take the DBI route, some take the CGI route, some take both, some take neither.

    I'm so adjective, I verb nouns!

    chomp; # nom nom nom
[reply]
      If you join the list you can help us find the best solution ;)
[reply]

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