Perl for Dummies 4th Edition (For Dummies Series) - Softcover

Hoffman, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0764537504 ISBN 13: 9780764537509

Publisher: For Dummies, 2003

Synopsis

In the days before personal computers, BASIC was the easy programming language to learn, and serious programmers learned FORTRAN or COBOL to do “real work.” Today, many people have discovered that Perl is both a great beginning programming language and one that enables them to write powerful programs with little effort.

If you’re interested in discovering how to program (or how others program), Perl For Dummies, 4th Edition, is for you. If you already know something about programming (but not about Perl), this book is also for you. If you’re already an expert programmer, you’re still welcome to read this book; you can just skip the basic stuff (you never know what kind of new tips and tricks you’ll pick up).

This reference guide shows you how to use Perl under many different operating systems, such as UNIX, many flavors of Windows (Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Me, and Windows XP), and Macintosh OS 9 and OS X; in fact, Perl runs on many more operating systems than these.

Here's a sampling of what Perl For Dummies, 4th Edition, has to offer:

• Installing Perl on various platforms
• Nailing down the basics of building Perl programs
• Working with text and numbers
• Constructing lists and working with them
• Creating conditionals and loops
• Delving into more advanced features such as operators and functions
• Reading and writing files and directories
• Using subroutines for modularity
• Demystifying Web server programs
• Creating your own Internet clients

The Perl programming language enables you to write fully working computer programs with just a few steps. It’s particularly good at common programming tasks, such as reading and writing text files, but it also excels at reducing the work that programmers have to do. Perl For Dummies, 4th Edition, shows you how to do all of that and how to modify programs to your heart’s content. After all, one of the common phrases in the world of Perl programmers is, “There's more than one way to do it.”

About this title

About the Author

Paul Hoffman has written and contributed to numerous Internet standards. He’s a 20-year Internet veteran and the author of more than a dozen computer books.

From the Back Cover

Get the scoop on new utilities, mod_perl, and more

The fun and easy way™ to start programming with Perl s newest features

So you ve decided to take the plunge into Perl programming? Relax! Perl is easy to understand, especially with this helpful guide to walk you through the basics. Soon, you ll be feeling the power as you explore CGI, database programming, and topics like using Perl with Mac OSX or with XML.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

The fun and easy way™ to start programming with Perl’s newest features

So you’ve decided to take the plunge into Perl programming? Relax! Perl is easy to understand, especially with this helpful guide to walk you through the basics. Soon, you’ll be feeling the power as you explore CGI, database programming, and topics like using Perl with Mac OSX or with XML.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Edition details

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0764537504
• ISBN 13: 9780764537509
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 408