Starting with Perl

[DrQuincy]

I'd like to go into something beyond PHP and am thinking about Perl.

What can Perl do that PHP can't? Is it true you can write deamons in Perl? Is there a good Perl editor for Linux or Mac? Can Perl do multithreading?

Thanks.

[tuxidomasx]

as far as a perl editor, i use jEdit

its java so its cross platform anyway. full syntax highlighting, plugins, customizable, lots of options.

i use it for all my code-- php, html, c/c++, perl, etc

[KevinR]

as far as web applications go, perl and php do the same things, but php was designed for web applications so is easier in some respects than perl. Perl is a full blown programming language and has uses beyone web stuff, but holds your hand less than php does. Many things that have a builtin functions in php don't exist in perl, so you are expected to do more of the programming in other words. But perl has tons of modules that can be installed or used as needed. Perl scripts/programs can be run as deamons (or under mod_perl for faster processing times.) Perl can do multithreading too. To be fair you should ask this question on a php forum too.

[Dark Tranquility]

I'd like to go into something beyond PHP and am thinking about Perl.

What can Perl do that PHP can't? Is it true you can write deamons in Perl? Is there a good Perl editor for Linux or Mac? Can Perl do multithreading?

Thanks.

I would suggest learning Ruby instead of Perl especially if you are going to use your stuff fir the web

[Snaily]

I would suggest learning Ruby instead of Perl especially if you are going to use your stuff fir the web

What does Ruby do for the web that Perl doesn't?

Anyhow, Perl is a great scripting language. Its very powerful, it doesn't get in your way and it doesn't try to hide the fact that its a scripting language like some of the others.

[Dark Tranquility]

What does Ruby do for the web that Perl doesn't?

Nothing! but Ruby is "selling" better! you will have a lot more programming and developing requests for Ruby than for Perl that was my point!
Needless to say Perl is really powerful!

[Snaily]

you will have a lot more programming and developing requests for Ruby than for Perl that was my point!

Where did you get this from? If its a new project usually clients don't request a particular technology...and if we're talking existing projects...well there are many more apps written in Perl than Ruby (just because its been around so much longer).

Anyhow, you're suggesting that he use Ruby because there is more hype around it....

[Dark Tranquility]

yes it is more hype!
and I had no Perl projects for my company since a year or so while we've launched 3 Ruby Apps during the last year! but yes it is true that 95% of the clients won't request a particular programming language for a new project! or at least this is our case! Still all those 3 ruby projects were requested by the clients.

And don't get me wrong, I am not against Perl or saying it is a waste of time to learn it!

[KevinR]

I remember all the hype about php years ago, and look at it now. Don't knock hype (too much anyway)

[Dark Tranquility]

I remember all the hype about php years ago, and look at it now. Don't knock hype (too much anyway)

I agree