Learning Perl, Fifth Edition

By Randal L. Schwartz, Tom Phoenix, brian d foy
June 2008
Pages: 348
ISBN 10: 0-596-52010-7 | ISBN 13: 9780596520106
Press Release
(4) (Average of 2 Customer Reviews)

Description

Learning Perl, popularly known as "the Llama," is the book most programmers rely on to get started with Perl. The bestselling Perl tutorial since it was first published in 1993, this new fifth edition covers recent changes to the language up to Perl 5.10. Reflecting years of classroom testing and experience, this edition is packed with exercises that let you practice the concepts while you follow the text.
Full Description

Learning Perl, popularly known as "the Llama," is the book most programmers rely on to get started with Perl. The bestselling Perl tutorial since it was first published in 1993, this new fifth edition covers recent changes to the language up to Perl 5.10.

This book reflects the combined experience of its authors, who have taught Perl at Stonehenge Consulting since 1991. Years of classroom testing and experience helped shape the book's pace and scope, and this edition is packed with exercises that let you practice the concepts while you follow the text. Topics include:

Perl data & variable types
Subroutines
File operations
Regular expressions
String manipulation
Lists & sorting
Process management
Smart matching
Using third party modules

Perl is the language for people who want to get work done. Originally targeted to sysadmins for heavy-duty text processing, Perl is now a full-featured programming language suitable for almost any task on almost any platform-from short fixes on the command line to web applications, bioinformatics, finance, and much more. Other books may teach you to program in Perl, but this book will turn you into a Perl programmer.

Featured customer reviews

THE book for Perl Programmers, November 02 2008

Rating:

Submitted by Edmonton Linux User Group [Respond | View]

One should be careful when trying to critique a classic that some consider on a par with the Bible itself - if you are to be believed at
all!

Yes, this is the classic 'llama book,' revised for the fifth time, from the folks who teach Perl at Stonehenge Consulting. It's the book that probably more Perl programmers cut their teeth on than any other. My first exposure to the Perl language was on the first edition of the book, and when I had questions, they were promptly answered by one of the authors. This edition includes some useful information on changes incorporated in the Perl 5.10 version.

As good an introduction to Perl that this books is, however, you need to remember that this is an introduction, and not an exhaustive reference - you'll need several feet of bookshelf space just for the additional Perl information O'Reilly has (and I'll have them all, soon!).

Also, the information is a good introduction and grounding in the language. However, I've actually found another book to be more useful as a keyboard-side companion, but then, I'm not using this other book to learn - just as a helping hand.

The major audience, of course, is the beginning Perl programmer. And it doesn't hurt old Perl hands to skim through it for a refresher. I'll probably get every new edition that comes out.

http://elug.ca/reviews/learning_perl_5th.shtml

The very best, July 26 2008

Rating:

Submitted by Edward Odonkor [Respond | View]

I have read many, but this is my Perl Book last stop, no more other books. It does it for me, the examples are great. I love it

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Media reviews
"Learning Perl is a programming library's foundation title and a highly recommended pick: it covers all the basics of what most programmers use and need to get started with Perl, and offers up a fifth edition of a classic first published in 1993. "
-- James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review - The Bookwatch

"If you don't know the language and want to learn it, or if you know it briefly and want to improve your basic knowledge, this is the right book for you."
-- Nicola Gigante, The Cattle Grid

"A great introduction--if you're starting out in Perl, you have to buy this book. "
-- Andy Hudson, Linux Format

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