Perl Fundamentals

Copyright by Ruben I Safir October 11, 1999

The specific purpose of this document is to give an outline of usable Perl fundamentals for the experienced computer user who does not have an extensive programming background. This makes up the majority of today's computer users in the age of the PC. Today large portions of the workforce and general population have been introduced to many computer applications in a Graphic User Interface environment. Many of these users have become well versed in the click and go world of Windows or MacOS, but find themselves unfamiliar with text editor and command line execution. Most are completely unfamiliar with powerful shell environments such as is available in Unix. In fact, many exhibit a phobia of the command line because of their negative experience with the simple and ineffective command line that is available in DOS. As a result, this class of user has never tapped into the full power of their PC environment.

It is the intention of these pages to teach Perl as an extension of the general computing environment. It is largely aimed at Corporate Training and Adult Education, though it is my hope that these pages will be useful for anyone from age 12 and up. In the process of teaching Perl, I hope to debunk several myths about Human/computer relations. I hope to demystify the basics of computer usage and enable the end user. By the end of this program one should have not only a basic knowledge of Perl, but also disprove the following assumptions about computer usage in the modern era:

End users can not and should not be asked to program: i.e.: Programming is too difficult for your typical end user.
  • Modern word processors, spread sheet applications, desktop publishing software and graphic programs far exceed the complexity of most common uses for Perl, and yet Perl is more powerful than any single application. If one can learn to read and write, do simple arithmetic, and solve simple word problems, then they can certainly be effective programmers. It is interesting that Larry Wall, the creator of Perl, is a linguistics. Perl is designed to be understood at a gut level. In some respects, learning Perl, or any programming language, is just a matter of learning how to talk to your computer. One learns a number of idioms and phases, and mixes them around to create new concepts. Learning idioms and syntax is more important than learning the P's and Q's of exacting detail if one is to learn to speak Perl effectively. Just as children learn to speak long before learning what a noun and a verb is, so one should approach learning a programming language. Learn to speak the Language first, then worry about memorizing the specifics of the difference between "" and 0.
    •
    End users can not and should not know there is a command line
  • The fear of the command line is based on the limitations that it presents as a friendly editing environment in DOS. There is no such problem in Unix, as the command line Unix is powerful, easy to manipulate, and often the best way of doing things. Many of the skills learned in Perl carry over to the command lines in Unix. Learning Perl naturally introduces the shell. Command line are easy once the fundamentals are learned.
    •
    End users can not and should not be asked to read....just click and go
  • Words are good, documentation is great, and end users CAN read. Civilization started about 5,000 years ago with the invention of the alphabet. It has taken mankind over 5 millennium to perfect the written language.....and Steve Jobs 5 years to blast us back to the Hieroglyphics ages. Is 40 non-descript icons on a word processor really easier to understand than the printed word?
    •

    What is Perl:

    The Practical Exteraction and Reporting Language

    Perl is a natural outgrowth of the Unix Enviorment. The Language was originally creatred as an advanced tool for Unix system administration. It has grown to be much more than this, and yet remains faithful to it's origins. Perl, after C, C++, Bourn Shell Scripting and Assembly, can be considered as one of the foundations of modern programming.

    Perl will be an fundemental language for the forseeable future because of the following reasons:
    1. Perl is currently ported to most computing enviorments including MacOS, Unix, Windows, DOS, and Mainframe enviorments.
    2. Perl is easy to learn and borrows syntax from most other familiar languages.
    3. Perl is easily extended through modules and libraries.
    4. Perl is easy to learn.
    5. Perl is open source, no one company or entity controls it's fate.
    6. Perl is well supported.
    7. Perl is free.
    8. Perl uses structured and/or object oriented programming design.
    9. Perl easy to itegrate with other programming languages and applications. It supports pipes and can be embeded in other languages.
    10. Perl has powerful regular expression capability.

    The fact that perl is open sourced, free and well supported guarantees that the communitee of programers who use and develope Perl control it's evolution and existance. The original authors of Perl are often seen on usenet newsgroups, online servers like Compuserve, and mailing lists, helping end users with problems and questions. It is not likely that you can get help with a programming problem in Visual Basic from Bill Gates. It is common to get Perl help from one of it's major contributers, like Randal Schwartz.

    NEXT: RESOURCES