How to motivate the use of Perl?

[felix.bonkatas]

In what domains of web development is Perl preferrable to PHP, even
when developing from the ground up? Are people still using Perl for
CGI programming? Is Perl's place primarily in the backend? What about
using Perl for database functions, e.g. in conjunction with MySQL?

The thing is, I'm about to teach a course in Perl, to beginners who
already know a little PHP. I need to get them motivated. Also, I need
to think of a longer exercise, one where Perl's strenghts can be shown
and one where one doesn't constantly think: Couldn't that be done in
PHP?

Note that I don't need to be motivated. I've been using Perl for quite
some time, for system administration and backend stuff, and a little
as a programming language for writing PostgreSQL functions and
triggers. However, I've rarely used it for CGI programming.

- Felix

 

[felix.bonkatas]

However, I've rarely used it for CGI programming.

Note that the focus of the course doesn't necessarily have to be on
CGI programming. Motivating Perl's use as a backend tool or in
conjunctions with databases would suffices. However, there should be
some relation to web programming.

What would also be interesting is an overview over famous web sites
where Perl is used in the frontend or the backend.

- Felix

 

[Charlton Wilbur]

fb> In what domains of web development is Perl preferrable to PHP,
fb> even when developing from the ground up?

All of them.

fb> Are people still using Perl for CGI programming?

Yes.

f> Is Perl's place primarily in b> the backend?

No.

fb> What about using Perl for database functions, e.g. in
fb> conjunction with MySQL?

What about it? perldoc DBI, perldoc DBIx::Class.

fb> The thing is, I'm about to teach a course in Perl, to
fb> beginners who already know a little PHP. I need to get them
fb> motivated. Also, I need to think of a longer exercise, one
fb> where Perl's strenghts can be shown and one where one doesn't
fb> constantly think: Couldn't that be done in PHP?

The only thing I've ever seen clearly demonstrate Perl's superiority
is trying to do a large project in PHP and a large project in Perl.
And even that's not decisive; a good self-disciplined team can make
PHP work acceptably well, and a poor sloppy team won't derive any
benefit from Perl.

The answer to your final question is, of *course* it can be done in
PHP, and for people who don't know Perl and who do know PHP, it will
probably be easier to do it in PHP. If the students are not
demonstrating their motivation simply by being there, you probably
don't have a chance.

Charlton

 

[cartercc]

In what domains of web development is Perl preferrable to PHP, even
when developing from the ground up? Are people still using Perl for
CGI programming? Is Perl's place primarily in the backend? What about
using Perl for database functions, e.g. in conjunction with MySQL?

The thing is, I'm about to teach a course in Perl, to beginners who
already know a little PHP. I need to get them motivated. Also, I need
to think of a longer exercise, one where Perl's strenghts can be shown
and one where one doesn't constantly think: Couldn't that be done in
PHP?

Note that I don't need to be motivated. I've been using Perl for quite
some time, for system administration and backend stuff, and a little
as a programming language for writing PostgreSQL functions and
triggers. However, I've rarely used it for CGI programming.

- Felix

Depends on the level and motivation. Course Technologies publishes a
Perl/CGI book by Diane Zak. This is a very good book for people who
know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript but need to improve (or acquire)
backend skills. It's suitable for a ten week course. The only real
probelm is that it doesn't get to databases.

New Riders published a book several years ago by Paul Dubois entitled
Perl and MySql. I believe New Riders is out of business, and I don't
know whether this book is still in print. Unfortunately (IMO) it uses
the CGI module to build web pages, which I have found to be worse than
useless since it doesn't play nice with CSS or JavaScript. It's a lot
easier to write your own library routines that do what you want them
to do and incorporate CSS and JavaScript.

CC

 

[xhoster]

In what domains of web development is Perl preferrable to PHP, even
when developing from the ground up?

I don't consider Perl to be dirt. By starting with Perl, I am beginning
substantially above the ground.

Are people still using Perl for
CGI programming?
Yes.

Is Perl's place primarily in the backend?

What does that mean? Is the front-end "client-side" and everything
that is server-side then "backend"? Or do you mean something else?

What about
using Perl for database functions, e.g. in conjunction with MySQL?
Extensively.

The thing is, I'm about to teach a course in Perl, to beginners who
already know a little PHP. I need to get them motivated. Also, I need
to think of a longer exercise, one where Perl's strenghts can be shown
and one where one doesn't constantly think: Couldn't that be done in
PHP?

I think it would be better to use example where it *could* be done in PHP,
just with great difficulty/annoyance.

Xho