Mailing-List: contact modperl-help@perl.apache.org; run by ezmlm
Precedence: bulk
Received-SPF: pass (nike.apache.org: domain of simon-lists@ldml.com designates
 78.105.5.204 as permitted sender)
Message-Id: <AD410189-69C4-464F-9DC8-D1B3B465FECC@ldml.com>
From: Simon Forster <simon-lists@ldml.com>
To: modperl <modperl@perl.apache.org>
In-Reply-To: <49CA76B2.8020703@norchemlab.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v930.3)
Subject: To learn perl... [was: decline and fall of modperl?]
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:35:34 +0000
References: <753640.29610.qm@web56407.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
 <8D136DA7BF0040F4A0FB29EA3A29ABA3@teddy> <49CA76B2.8020703@norchemlab.com>


On 25 Mar 2009, at 18:23, David Ihnen wrote:

>> They've also told me that they know that perl is harder to learn  
>> than PHP.
>> What can I tell them? That it is not true?
> Yes, but you may or may not be right.  We all agree that coming into  
> perl is confusing - too much old data about how to do things is out  
> there in the world.  That makes it harder to learn - not because the  
> language is harder to learn - but because its not clear what the  
> proper way to learn it is.

And what is the proper way? I've futzed about in a number or languages  
- including perl - but only at a very basic level with perl. I've got  
some web stuff to do and thought that having a go with perl may be a  
pleasant diversion. At the moment it looks like I'll be using Catalyst  
and Mason to help with the job - but what are the pratfalls to avoid -  
or the good practice to follow (use strict and warnings :-)

As an outsider, perl is its own worst enemy. Its proud boast is that  
there's more than one way of doing things (so show me a language where  
that's not true) while not really showing a good way. I accept that a  
chunk of this is style / taste / choice but a few pointers along the  
lines of "that way the road is quite straight and smooth" would help  
quite a lot.

I guess I'm asking for a magic formula which doesn't exist and that I  
should just bloody well get on and do it but I'll ask anyway.

TIA

Simon