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Perl: Programming Perl
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Short for Practical Extraction and Reporting Language, Perl is an interpreted programming language first developed by Larry Wall in 1987 that is similar to the C language. Perl is one of the more commonly used languages in writing CGI scripts and programming for Internet and web page applications. Below is an example of a Perl script that prints "Hello World!".
Perl is a programming language designed by Larry Wall, known today for its strong community and module archive CPAN. It was originally developed to process text and produce reports. As a result, a backronym has been formed from its name: P[R]actical Extraction and Report Language. It makes extensive use of significant punctuation, and highly chaotic-looking code has been written in it. This has resulted in a less complimentary backronym (which is still embraced by Perl users): Pathologically Eclectic Rubbish Lister (said to be a quote from the language designer himself).
Perl has several mottos that convey aspects of its design and use. One is "There's more than one way to do it." (TIMTOWTDI, usually pronounced 'Tim Toady'). Others are "Perl: the Swiss Army Chainsaw of Programming Languages" and "No unnecessary limits". A stated design goal of Perl is to make easy tasks easy and difficult tasks possible. Perl has ... been called "The Duct Tape of the Internet".[15]
Learn to do everyday tasks on your web site using Perl--even if you have no programming background. Perl for Web Site Management shows how to write CGI scripts, incorporate search… Read more.
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Perl is steadily evolving. Implementations are available for a tremendous range of platforms such as Application System/400, Macintosh, MS DOS, MVS, NetWare, OS/2, Unix, VMS and Windows 3.1, 95 and NT, as well as support for Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Server API. A compiler is in alpha release. Perl is a uniquely rich programming environment with an enthusiastic following and a lot of supporting software. It is a prime tool for intranets.
Image:Programming-republic-of-perl.gif Perl was originally named "Pearl", after the Parable of the Pearl from the Gospel of Matthew. Larry Wall wanted to give the language a short name with positive connotations; he claims that he considered (and rejected) every three- and four-letter word in the dictionary. He ... considered naming it after his wife Gloria. Wall discovered the existing PEARL programming language before Perl's official release and changed the spelling of the name.
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