Perl Programming eLearning Bundle Course

This training is a self-paced eLearning course that you have access to for 6 months after purchase.

Perl is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that was originally designed for text manipulation. It has since grown into a powerful tool for creating web applications, system administration scripts, and much more. One of the major strengths of Perl is its ability to handle variables and conditions efficiently and intuitively.

Variables in Perl are simply placeholders for values or references to data. They make it possible to store, manipulate and retrieve data in an organized manner. In Perl, variables are created by simply assigning a value or reference to a name with the '$' symbol. This can include numbers, strings, arrays, hashes and even code references.

Perl also has a range of built-in string functions that make working with text incredibly easy. These functions allow for tasks like finding patterns, replacing text, and splitting strings into arrays. They can also handle special characters and formatting options to make programming with strings more efficient.

When it comes to conditionals in Perl, the language offers a variety of options for controlling program flow. The most common conditional statement is the 'if' statement, which allows for executing specific code only if certain conditions are met. Perl also has 'else' and 'elsif' options for more complex logic, as well as the ability to use conditional operators such as 'and', 'or', and 'not'.

Loops are another crucial component of any programming language, and Perl offers a variety of looping options. The most basic loop is the 'for' loop, which allows for executing code a specific number of times. However, Perl also has 'while' loops for executing code while a certain condition is true, and 'foreach' loops for iterating through elements in an array or hash.

Perl's strong support for variables and conditions makes it a versatile and powerful language for handling data and controlling program flow. With its intuitive syntax and extensive library of built-in functions, Perl is a popular choice for both beginners and experienced programmers alike. Whether it's text manipulation or web development, Perl has the tools to get the job done efficiently and effectively.

Lists in Perl are an essential data structure used to store a collection of values or variables. They are commonly referred to as arrays and can hold various types of data, such as strings, numbers, and even other lists. Lists in Perl are mutable, meaning that their contents can be changed dynamically.

Perl provides several built-in functions for working with lists, such as push(), pop(), shift(), and unshift(). These functions allow for easy manipulation of lists by adding or removing elements at either the beginning or end of the list.

Perl also allows for user input through various methods. One way is through command line input, where users can enter values directly into the terminal while running a Perl script. This enables dynamic and interactive programs to be created, allowing for a more engaging experience for the user.

Another method of obtaining user input in Perl is through file input and output. This involves reading data from files or writing data to files. This is useful for handling large amounts of information and allows for the creation of more complex programs that require persistent storage of data.

Perl also has a built-in feature for hashing, which is a way of organizing and accessing data in key-value pairs. Hashes are similar to lists, but instead of using numerical indices to access elements, they use unique keys. This allows for faster retrieval of specific data and provides a more efficient way of storing and accessing large amounts of information.

Perl offers various tools and functions for handling lists and user input, making it a versatile language for developing dynamic and interactive programs. By understanding the fundamentals of lists, command line input, file input and output, and hashing in Perl, programmers can create efficient and powerful programs that cater to their specific needs.

Subroutines are an essential concept in Perl regular expressions and routines. They allow you to group and encapsulate code, making it easier to reuse and maintain. Subroutines can also take arguments and return values, allowing for more flexibility in your code.

When creating a subroutine, you first need to declare it using the `sub` keyword followed by the subroutine name and a pair of parentheses for the arguments. Inside the curly braces, you can then write the code that makes up your subroutine's functionality.

Arguments are variables passed to the subroutine in the parentheses after its name. These arguments can be used within the subroutine's code to perform specific tasks or calculations. Once the subroutine has completed its task, it can return a value using the `return` keyword.

Regular expressions, also known as regex, are a powerful tool for manipulating and searching text. Simple regular expressions are made up of literal characters, such as letters or numbers, and metacharacters, which have special meanings. These metacharacters allow you to match patterns within the text, making it easier to perform complex search and replace operations.

Some commonly used metacharacters in Perl regular expressions include the `.` for matching any single character, `*` for matching zero or more occurrences of the previous character, and `+` for matching one or more occurrences. These metacharacters can be combined with literal characters to create powerful search patterns.

With the combination of subroutines and regular expressions, Perl provides a robust and efficient way to manipulate and search text. These tools can greatly enhance the functionality of your code and make it more readable and maintainable. By understanding these concepts, you can take your Perl programming to the next level and create powerful solutions for various text manipulation tasks.

Public instructor-led Perl Programming course prices start at $1,740 per student. Group training discounts are available.

Self-Paced Perl Programming eLearning courses cost $250 at the starting point per student. Group purchase discounts are available.

A: If you are wondering what Perl Programming skills are important to learn, we've written a Perl Programming Skills and Learning Guide that maps out Perl skills that are key to master and which of our courses teaches each skill.

Read Our Perl Programming Skills and Learning Guide

A: As a programming language, Perl can be a little challenging for novices to learn. Its syntax can appear jumbled when compared to cleaner languages like Python. How long it will take you to learn Perl can depend on your skill set and how you want to use the language professionally. Some users may only need a few days to become comfortable with using the language, while others might need to devote years to intense study. Working with this language has several benefits, including the ability to save time through concise coding and create modern applications.

More Information on How to Learn Perl Online

A: There are a few different ways that you can learn Perl. One way is to find resources online and another is to take group onsite training classes. Whichever route you choose, make sure that you find reliable resources so that you can gain a strong understanding of the programming language.

If you want to learn Perl on your own, there are a few places you can start. The Perl website offers a beginner's guide as well as other documentation that can help you get started. Alternatively, you can search for online tutorials or join forums where experienced Perl programmers can help answer your questions.

Taking formal Perl training classes is another great way to learn Perl. These classes will provide you with the opportunity to receive hands-on instruction from an experienced Perl programmer. In addition, you'll be able to interact with other students who are also learning the programming language. This can be a great way to get support and advice from your peers.

No matter which method you choose to learn Perl, make sure that you find resources that are reliable and comprehensive. This will ensure that you gain a strong understanding of the programming language so that you can use it effectively in your own projects.

A: No, Perl is not difficult to learn. In fact, many people find it much easier to learn than other languages. The reason for this is that Perl has a very concise syntax and a large number of built-in features that make programming tasks much easier. Additionally, the community of Perl programmers is very supportive and always willing to help those who are just starting out.

A: Yes, Perl is a scripting language. It is used for automating tasks and can be embedded into other applications. Perl has a wide range of features that make it versatile and powerful, making it a popular choice for many different types of tasks.

A: Perl is a versatile scripting language that can be used for a variety of tasks, from simple text processing to complex system administration. While Perl is not as widely known as some other languages, it is still in high demand by employers. Here are some of the top Perl skills that employers are looking for:

Top Perl Skills

1. Regular Expressions: Regular expressions are a powerful tool for matching and manipulating text. Perl's regular expression syntax is particularly rich and expressive, making it an essential skill for any Perl programmer.

2. Object-Oriented Programming: Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a style of programming that organizes code into reusable objects. OOP can make code more modular and easier to maintain. Perl's OOP support is extensive and well-designed, making it a good choice for projects that make use of OOP concepts.

3. Text Processing: Perl's ease of text processing makes it anv ideal language for working with data in text format, such as log files or CSV files. Perl's built-in regular expression support makes it particularly well-suited for this task.

4. System Administration: Perl is often used for system administration tasks, such as automating common tasks or writing monitoring scripts. Perl's wide range of available modules makes it easy to interface with many different system components, making it a versatile tool for system administrators.

5. Database Interaction: Perl can be used to interact with databases, either directly via Perl's DBI module or through an interface such as DBD::mysql. This makes Perl a good choice for scripts that need to extract data from databases or perform other database-related tasks.

These are just some of the top Perl skills that employers are looking for. If you're looking to make yourself more marketable as a Perl programmer, these are skills worth learning.

Perl Programming Blogs

• blogs.perl.org — blogging the onion
• Perl Hacks - Just another Perl Hacker's blog

Perl Programming User Groups

• Perl Mongers
• Perl groups | Meetup

Perl Programming Online Forums

• Perl - Reddit
• PerlMonks